loungewear

IPA/ˈlaʊndʒweə(r)/
IPA/ˈlaʊndʒwer/

loungewear — noun

1. soft, easy-to-wear clothes such as sweatpants and oversized shirts that people p

1.nounB2
Definition

soft, easy-to-wear clothes such as sweatpants and oversized shirts that people put on around the house to feel relaxed.

Example

Esteban changed into loungewear the moment he got home from the office.

change into + loungewear (typical verb collocation)

The hotel gift shop sells cotton loungewear in soft pink and pale grey.

loungewear as uncountable noun with material adjective

Common collocations
  • change into loungewear
  • comfy loungewear
  • matching loungewear set
  • cotton loungewear
Synonyms
  • sleepwear

    specifically for sleeping; loungewear is for being awake but relaxed

  • leisurewear

    broader — includes casual outdoor clothes; loungewear is mostly indoor

  • athleisure

    stretchy sportswear styled for daily wear; loungewear prioritises softness over athletic look

Antonyms
  • formalwear

    suits and dresses worn for offices, weddings, or evening events

Usage Note

Always uncountable — say 'a piece of loungewear' or 'some loungewear', never 'a loungewear' or 'loungewears'. Subject is typically a person putting clothes on at home, or a retailer selling the category.

Common Mistakes

I bought two loungewears yesterday.
I bought two pieces of loungewear yesterday.
loungewear is uncountable, like 'clothing'.
She wore a loungewear to the party.
She wore loungewear to the party.
no article 'a' before this uncountable noun.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These four words all describe casual clothes, but they cover different occasions. Loungewear is for relaxing at home while awake — soft sweatpants, oversized T-shirts, fleece sets you put on after work or on a slow Sunday. Sleepwear is narrower: pyjamas, nightgowns, and nightshirts specifically made for sleeping. Leisurewear is broader than loungewear — it includes casual outdoor clothes like tracksuits and hoodies you might wear to run errands or meet friends informally. Athleisure is a newer term for stretchy, sport-styled clothing that looks athletic but is worn for everyday life, not actual exercise. So a yoga teacher might wear athleisure to coffee, change into loungewear after dinner, and finally put on sleepwear before bed.

loungewear ↗sleepwear ↗leisurewear ↗athleisure ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • loungewear set
  • loungewear brand
  • loungewear collection

Phrases

  • comfortable loungewear
  • matching loungewear
  • cotton loungewear

Prepositions

  • in loungewear
  • into loungewear

Etymology

English

A 20th-century compound formed from 'lounge' (a verb and noun meaning to relax in a casual posture, from 16th-century English of unclear origin) plus '-wear', the productive suffix for clothing categories also seen in 'sportswear', 'swimwear', and 'menswear'. The word entered wide use in the mid-1900s as retailers carved out a category between sleepwear and street clothes; demand surged after 2020 as more people worked from home.