What does jean mean?
The word jean denotes denim trousers, particularly the casual garment commonly associated with everyday clothing, workwear, and later fashion styles. Although a jean can refer to one trouser leg, English normally uses the plural jeans even when discussing a single pair, much as one says a pair of trousers. Jeans are characteristically made from durable cotton twill dyed or woven to produce a blue-denim appearance, though they may also be made in other colours. The word can denote a specific style or fit, as in skinny jeans, or denim clothing generally in some contexts. It is also widely used in fixed expressions such as a pair of jeans and jeans pockets. The unusual agreement of the word—plural in form for a single garment—is its most distinctive grammatical feature and distinguishes the modern form from the rarer singular jean.
nounA garment made from denim, especially a pair of such trousers. The word is usually used in the plural form jeans, including when referring to a single pair.
- A pair of trousers or a single trouser leg made from denim, usually worn casually.
"She paired a faded jean with a plain white T-shirt."
"He wore a well-worn jean with a pair of leather boots."
"The shop sells jeans in several colours and fits."
Normally plural in form, even when referring to a single pair of trousers.
"These jeans are too long."
One pair, two legs, plural by convention: “jeans” takes a plural even when there is only one pair.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does jean come from?
English borrowed the word jean from French, where it originally referred to a heavy cotton fabric. The fabric was associated with serge de Nîmes, a term naming the material after its resemblance to serge produced in Nîmes, France. The English word later came to denote denim trousers, and the plural jeans became the usual form used for the garment.
Related word forms
How jean is actually used
The plural jeans is standard in both British and American English, even for one pair. The singular jean is uncommon and may sound deliberately informal or nostalgic; in other contexts, jeans may also refer collectively to denim clothing.