What does underpants mean?
Underpants are underwear worn beneath trousers, shorts, or a skirt, normally covering the pelvis and upper thighs. The word is a general term rather than one specifying a particular style, so it may refer to briefs, boxer briefs, boxer shorts, or other similarly close-fitting garments. It is widely used in everyday speech in both British and American English, although speakers often use more precise terms when discussing a specific product or style. In American English, the related word pants can mean either underwear or outer trousers, whereas in British English pants ordinarily means trousers; the compound underpants avoids that ambiguity. The noun is plural in its standard modern form, so a single item is usually counted with a pair of. Although its clothing sense is now dominant, the word also illustrates how English compounds often clarify the position or function of a more general garment term.
nounUnderwear worn beneath trousers, shorts, or a skirt, covering the pelvis and usually the upper thighs.
- Underwear worn beneath outer garments, especially trousers or skirts, and covering the pelvic area and upper thighs.
"He put on a clean pair of underpants before getting dressed."
"The label on my new underpants caused a scratchy reaction."
"Pack several changes of socks and underpants for the overnight trip."
The noun is normally plural in form and agreement. A single item is commonly expressed as a pair of underpants; the singular underpant is rare and largely historical.
"He bought a new pair of underpants."
Underpants is one of the few everyday nouns that is almost always plural: one wears a pair of underpants.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does underpants come from?
Underpants is an English compound formed by adding the prefix under- to pants. It came into use in the early nineteenth century, when underpant was also recorded as a singular form. Its second element, pants, was shortened from pantaloons; the fuller terms pantaloon, pantaloons, and French pantalons preserve the clothing-word lineage from which the modern compound developed.
How underpants is actually used
This is a neutral, everyday term for underwear for the lower body. More specific terms such as briefs, boxer briefs, and boxer shorts identify particular styles or garments.
Easily confused with underpants
In American English, pants can mean underwear or outer trousers, while in British English pants usually means trousers; underpants unambiguously denotes underwear.