trousers

trousers — noun

1. an item of outerwear worn on your lower body, made with two long separate sectio

1.nounA1
Definition

an item of outerwear worn on your lower body, made with two long separate sections — one covering the left leg and another covering the right leg — which reach down to around the ankle

Example

Christopher wore a clean pair of grey trousers to his first job interview.

a pair of + [adjective] + trousers

The tailor shortened the legs of Vikram's old trousers by three centimetres.

Common collocations
  • a pair of trousers
  • wear trousers
  • put on / take off trousers
  • trouser leg
  • trouser pocket
  • dress / casual / formal trousers
  • cotton / wool / linen trousers
Synonyms
  • pants

    everyday American English term for the same garment

  • slacks

    more formal, especially for office or smart casual wear

  • jeans

    denim trousers, a specific type with a casual style

Antonyms
  • skirt

    a one-piece lower garment that does not separate the legs

Grammar Patterns

always takes plural verb

a pair of + trousers

Usage Note

Trousers is a plural noun and always takes a plural verb (e.g. 'These trousers are too long'). To refer to a single item, use 'a pair of trousers' or 'some trousers'. In American English, the everyday word is 'pants'; 'trousers' sounds more formal in the US.

Common Mistakes

This trousers is too short.
These trousers are too short.
'trousers' is a plural noun and needs a plural verb.
I bought a trouser at the store.
I bought a pair of trousers at the store.
'trousers' is always plural; use 'a pair of' to count.
Idioms

catch somebody with their trousers down

idiom

To find someone unprepared for a situation, often causing them embarrassment.

The sudden inspection caught the manager with his trousers down.

Did the pop quiz catch you with your trousers down?

wear the trousers

idiom

To be the dominant partner in a relationship who makes the important decisions.

In their marriage, Maria clearly wears the trousers.

Who wears the trousers in your household, Tom?

Word family

  • trouser
    noun (attributive)A2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe lower-body garments that cover each leg separately. 'Trousers' is the standard term in British and Commonwealth English for any such garment reaching to the ankle. 'Pants' is its everyday American equivalent — in the UK, 'pants' refers to underwear. 'Slacks' are formal trousers, typically made of finer fabric and worn with a suit jacket or blazer. 'Jeans' are a specific type of casual trousers made from denim, usually with a five-pocket design. 'Shorts' reach only to the knee or above and are worn in warm weather. For example: 'He wore grey trousers to the office meeting but changed into shorts when he got home.'

pants ↗slacksjeans ↗shorts

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • a pair of trousers
  • trousers suit (for women)

Prepositions

  • in (e.g. a man in dark trousers)
  • with (e.g. a jacket with matching trousers)

Etymology

Scottish GaelicIrishScotsEnglish

The word 'trousers' comes from the Scottish Gaelic and Irish word 'triubhas' (meaning close-fitting shorts or breeches), which entered English via Scots as 'trews' in the 16th century. The modern spelling 'trousers' appeared in the 17th century and replaced older terms like 'breeches'.