t-shirt

t-shirt — noun

1. a soft cotton shirt without a collar, typically with short sleeves, worn as casu

1.nounA1
Definition

a soft cotton shirt without a collar, typically with short sleeves, worn as casual everyday clothing

Example

Mauricio wore a white t-shirt and jeans to the party.

The t-shirt Min bought at the concert has the band's logo on the front.

t-shirt + prepositional phrase describing design

Common collocations
  • cotton t-shirt
  • t-shirt and jeans
  • wear a t-shirt
  • buy a t-shirt
  • clean t-shirt
Synonyms
  • tee

    informal, short form of t-shirt

  • top

    broader term that includes t-shirts and other upper-body garments

Grammar Patterns

determiner + t-shirt

adjective + t-shirt

t-shirt + prepositional phrase

Usage Note

Often written as T-shirt in formal or printed contexts. The T in the name refers to the shape of the garment when laid flat.

Common Mistakes

I bought a new T-shirt and wore it to work with a tie.
I bought a new t-shirt and wore it with jeans on the weekend.
A t-shirt is informal; it is not worn with formal clothing like a tie.

Word family

  • tee
    nounB1
  • t-shirted
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

T-shirt is the most common and specific term for a collarless, short-sleeved cotton garment worn casually. Tee is a very informal abbreviation used in shopping or conversation ('I picked up a couple of tees'). Top is a broader category that includes t-shirts, blouses, tank tops, and other upper-body garments — it is useful when the exact style does not matter. Shirt usually refers to a garment with a collar, buttons down the front, and longer sleeves, which is considered more formal than a t-shirt. For example: 'The dress code requires a shirt and tie, not just a t-shirt.'

teetopshirt ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • t-shirt and jeans

Prepositions

  • in a t-shirt
  • on a t-shirt

Etymology

English

The name t-shirt comes from the T-shape the garment makes when laid flat — the body forms the vertical line and the sleeves form the top bar of the letter T. The word first appeared in English in the early 1900s, at first referring to an undershirt worn by workers and soldiers, and later becoming common as outer casual wear.