bra

Word family

• brassiere
  nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

While all four terms refer to clothing that covers the upper body of a woman, they differ in scope and formality. 'Bra' is the everyday word used in almost all situations — shopping, medical advice, fashion, and casual conversation. 'Brassiere' is the original full form but sounds very formal or dated; you are more likely to see it on product labels than hear it in speech. 'Bandeau' describes a specific strapless, band-like style worn mainly with summer or evening clothing, not a general replacement for 'bra'. 'Bikini top' is swimwear, not underwear — a woman might wear a bikini top at the beach but would not wear one under a work shirt. For example: 'She bought a new bra for everyday use.' 'She wore a bandeau with her sundress.' 'She packed a bikini top for the pool.'

Common collocations

Etymology

The word 'bra' is a short form of 'brassiere', which became common in English in the 1930s. 'Brassiere' came from French, where it originally meant 'bodice' or 'child's chemise', and can be traced further back to Old French 'braciere', meaning an arm protector.