What does loincloth mean?
A loincloth is a simple garment made from a strip of cloth worn around the waist to cover the genitals. It is associated especially with traditional clothing and with historical or cultural representations of people in minimal garments, although it is also used in modern descriptions of costume, sculpture, and dress. In a sentence, “wear a loincloth” usually means to wear such a garment around the lower body. The term can be factual and respectful in an historical or cultural context, but it may sound reductive or mocking when used loosely to characterize someone’s clothing. It is also worth distinguishing from “loin,” which names a part of the body rather than the garment itself. As a vocabulary word, it provides a specific term for a basic form of clothing that has been used across many cultures and periods.
nounA piece of cloth worn around the waist to cover the genitals, especially in traditional or minimal clothing. It may be secured at the waist and passed between the legs.
- A garment made from a strip of cloth, worn around the waist to cover the genitals.
"He wore a simple loincloth as he walked across the beach."
"The statue was depicted wearing nothing but a loincloth."
"The guide explained the traditional loincloth before the ceremony."
The regular plural is used when referring to multiple garments.
"The museum displayed several traditional loincloths."
From ancient Mediterranean dress to modern depictions of traditional clothing, the loincloth remains one of the simplest and most enduring garments.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does loincloth come from?
The word combines “loin,” meaning the side of the lower back, with “cloth.” “Loin” comes through Old French from Latin longus, while “cloth” is an Old English word inherited from Germanic roots. The compound first referred to the part of the cloth that covered the loins and later to the garment as a whole.
Related word forms
How loincloth is actually used
The term is commonly used in historical, anthropological, religious, and cultural contexts. It may sound neutral or descriptive in specialist writing, but can sound dismissive or caricatured when used casually to refer to someone's clothing.
Easily confused with loincloth
A loin is the part of the body on either side of the lower back, whereas a loincloth is a garment that covers the genitals.