swimsuit

swimsuit — noun

1. something you wear when you go swimming, made of material that dries fast and fi

1.nounA2
Definition

something you wear when you go swimming, made of material that dries fast and fits the body closely

Example

Amira forgot to pack her swimsuit for the day at the beach.

collocation: pack a swimsuit — bring one on a trip

Feng hung his wet swimsuit on the back of a garden chair to dry.

Common collocations
  • pack a swimsuit
  • put on a swimsuit
  • wear a swimsuit
  • a wet swimsuit
  • a new swimsuit
  • a one-piece swimsuit
Synonyms
  • swimwear

    more general — refers to all types of swimming clothes as a category rather than one item

  • bathing suit

    common in American English; sounds slightly old-fashioned to some speakers

  • swimming costume

    the usual term in British English, especially for women's one-piece suits

Usage Note

Swimsuit is the general term for any clothing worn for swimming. Specific types include one-piece swimsuits (a single piece covering the body) and bikinis (two pieces for women).

Common Mistakes

She bought a swimming suit.
She bought a swimsuit.
The word is normally written as a single compound word, not two separate words.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Swimsuit is the everyday word for any garment worn for swimming. Swimwear is a broader, more formal category term used in shops and advertising (e.g., 'the swimwear section'). Bikini refers specifically to a two-piece swimsuit for women, while trunks are loose-fitting shorts worn by men. In American English, bathing suit is a common synonym for swimsuit but sounds slightly dated. In British English, swimming costume is the preferred term for women's one-piece suits. For daily conversation, swimsuit works in almost any situation: 'Amira forgot her swimsuit' sounds natural, while 'Amira forgot her swimwear' would sound odd.

swimsuit ↗swimwearbikini ↗trunks

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • in a swimsuit
  • change into a swimsuit

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishOld FrenchEnglish

Swimsuit is a compound word made from 'swim' (from Old English 'swimman', meaning to move through water) and 'suit' (from Old French 'suite', meaning a set of clothes). It first appeared in English around the early 1900s, when swimming became a popular sport and leisure activity. Before that, people used the term 'bathing suit' or 'bathing costume'.