lingerie

lingerie — noun

1. clothing that women wear under their outer clothes, such as bras, panties, and s

1.nounB1
Definition

clothing that women wear under their outer clothes, such as bras, panties, and slips, often made of fine or decorative fabric like silk or lace

Example

Beatrix bought a set of silk lingerie for her honeymoon trip to Bali.

collocation: silk lingerie

The shop window displayed beautiful lingerie in soft pink and cream colors.

passive: was displayed; descriptive pattern

Common collocations
  • silk lingerie
  • lace lingerie
  • cotton lingerie
  • wear lingerie
  • buy lingerie
  • lingerie shop
  • lingerie brand
  • lingerie collection
Synonyms
  • underwear

    broader term used for all genders and ages; less elegant in tone

  • intimate apparel

    formal retail euphemism, common in catalogues and department stores

  • underthings

    informal and slightly dated; covers bras and panties in a vague way

  • lingerie set

    specifically a matching bra-and-panty combination sold together

Usage Note

Lingerie is a polite, retail-oriented term typically used in shops and advertisements. In casual conversation, English speakers more often say 'underwear' or 'underclothes'.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Lingerie is distinct from the general term 'underwear' in both tone and scope. Underwear covers all undergarments for any gender and any occasion, while lingerie specifically refers to women's undergarments that are attractive, often made of silk, lace, or sheer fabric, and is the standard term in fashion retail. 'Intimate apparel' is a more formal, euphemistic label used mainly in catalogues and upmarket department stores; a shopper would see a sign for 'Intimate Apparel' but tell a friend 'I bought some lingerie.' 'Underthings' is a casual, vague word that a speaker might use to avoid saying 'underwear' or 'lingerie' directly — for instance, 'She packed her underthings in the suitcase.' Among these, lingerie is the most precise for items designed with deliberate aesthetic appeal.

underwear ↗intimate apparelunderthingslingerie ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • a piece of lingerie
  • a set of lingerie
  • a range of lingerie

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Borrowed in the 19th century from French 'lingerie', which originally meant linens or linen goods. The French word comes from 'linge' (linen), which traces back to Latin 'lineus', meaning 'of linen'. Over time the meaning shifted from household linens to women's undergarments, which were historically made from linen.