nightwear

IPA/ˈnaɪtweə(r)/
IPA/ˈnaɪtwer/

nightwear — noun

1. clothes people wear for sleeping or for the time just before they get into bed.

1.nounB2
Definition

clothes people wear for sleeping or for the time just before they get into bed.

Example

Lucia packed light cotton nightwear for the hot hostel rooms in Cebu.

material modifier: cotton nightwear

The twins ran downstairs in matching nightwear when the doorbell rang.

pattern: in + nightwear

Common collocations
  • cotton nightwear
  • children's nightwear
  • flame-safe nightwear
  • wash nightwear
Synonyms
  • sleepwear

    a broad modern label for clothes worn to sleep, especially in retail or product descriptions

  • nightclothes

    a general word too, but it sounds slightly older or less common today

  • pyjamas

    more specific; usually means a matching top and trousers, not the whole category

Grammar Patterns

nightwear + of/in + material

children's/baby's + nightwear

in + nightwear

Usage Note

Usually an uncountable general term covering pyjamas, nightdresses, nightshirts, and similar clothes. It is especially common in shop labels, catalogues, and safety advice, while everyday speech often names the exact garment instead.

Common Mistakes

I packed three nightwears for camp.
I packed three sets of nightwear for camp.
'nightwear' is normally uncountable, so you do not add a plural -s.
He changed into his nightwears after dinner.
He changed into his nightwear after dinner.
use the uncountable noun for the general category of sleep clothes.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Nightwear' and 'sleepwear' are both broad category words for clothes worn at bedtime, so they work well in shops, packing lists, and safety rules. 'Nightwear' feels slightly more British and product-label-like, while 'sleepwear' sounds more neutral and modern in retail English. 'Nightclothes' is close in meaning, but many speakers hear it as a little older-fashioned. 'Pyjamas' is narrower: it usually means a particular two-piece outfit, not the whole category that also includes nightdresses, nightshirts, and similar items.

nightwear ↗sleepwear ↗nightclothes ↗pyjamas

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • buy nightwear
  • wash nightwear
  • pack nightwear

Prepositions

  • in (nightwear)

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

A simple English compound of 'night' and 'wear'. It developed as a general label for the clothes people use for sleeping, especially in product descriptions and shop language.