shorts

IPA/ʃɔːts/
KK[ʃˈɔrts]IPA/ʃɔːrts/

shorts — noun

1. A piece of clothing that covers your body from the waist down to the upper part

1.nounA1
Definition

A piece of clothing that covers your body from the waist down to the upper part of your legs, stopping at or above the knees — worn in warm weather, for sports, or when you want to move freely.

Example

Emma wore a pair of cotton shorts and a white T-shirt to the beach.

collocation: a pair of shorts

The children put on their shorts and ran outside to play in the garden.

Common collocations
  • a pair of shorts
  • cotton shorts
  • denim shorts
  • running shorts
  • basketball shorts
  • swimming shorts
  • beach shorts
  • summer shorts
  • football shorts
  • shorts and a T-shirt
Synonyms
  • short trousers

    British English term for the same garment, less common in everyday speech

  • cut-offs

    informal term for shorts made by cutting the legs off full-length trousers, especially jeans

  • bermuda shorts

    a specific style that reaches to just above the knee, more formal than sporty shorts

Antonyms
  • trousers

    long leg covering that reaches the ankles

  • jeans

    long denim trousers

Grammar Patterns

plural form (a pair of shorts, two pairs of shorts)

Usage Note

Always used in the plural form. To count them, say 'a pair of shorts' or 'two pairs of shorts' — never 'a short'.

Common Mistakes

I bought a short for the summer.
I bought a pair of shorts for the summer.
'shorts' is a plural noun; use 'a pair of' to refer to one item.
She put on her short and went jogging.
She put on her shorts and went jogging.
the singular 'short' is an adjective, not a noun meaning clothing.

2. A loose-fitting piece of underwear for men that covers the lower part of the bod

2.nounB1
Definition

A loose-fitting piece of underwear for men that covers the lower part of the body, with a cut similar to the type that boxers wear during a fight.

Example

Theo prefers wearing cotton boxer shorts because they are more comfortable than tight briefs.

boxer shorts — specific type

Aisha bought her husband a pack of three pairs of shorts from the menswear department.

quantifier: a pack of / pairs of

Common collocations
  • boxer shorts
  • cotton shorts
  • a pack of shorts
  • a pair of shorts
  • men's shorts
  • loose shorts
Synonyms
  • boxer shorts

    the full name for this style of men's underwear

  • boxers

    informal short form of 'boxer shorts'

  • underpants

    general term for men's underwear, includes other styles like briefs

Antonyms
  • briefs

    tight-fitting men's underwear, the opposite cut to loose boxer shorts

Grammar Patterns

plural form (a pair of shorts, boxer shorts)

Usage Note

Also called 'boxer shorts' or simply 'boxers'. Always plural — use 'a pair of shorts' for one item. Distinct from sense 1 (knee-length outer clothing); this sense refers exclusively to underwear worn under other clothes.

Common Mistakes

I need to buy a short for the gym.
I need to buy a pair of shorts for the gym.
'shorts' is always plural whether referring to outerwear or underwear.
He wore shorts under his trousers.' (ambiguous)
He wore a pair of boxer shorts under his trousers.
specify 'boxer' to avoid confusion with knee-length outer shorts.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Shorts, trousers, pants, jeans, and leggings are all leg coverings that differ mainly in length and formality. 'Shorts' are the only type that ends at or above the knee, making them the go-to choice for warm weather, sports, and casual summer wear. 'Trousers' (UK) or 'pants' (US) reach the ankles and are worn for school, office, or formal occasions. 'Jeans' are a specific style of long trousers made from denim, usually more casual than suit trousers. 'Leggings' are tight-fitting stretch pants that cover the whole leg and are worn mainly by women for exercise or casual outfits. For example, you might wear shorts to the beach, trousers to a job interview, jeans to go shopping, and leggings to a yoga class. Only shorts give you the freedom of bare legs in hot weather.

shorts ↗trousers ↗pants ↗jeans ↗leggings ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • cotton shorts
  • denim shorts
  • khaki shorts

Phrases

  • a pair of shorts
  • two pairs of shorts
  • a pack of shorts

Prepositions

  • in shorts

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

The word 'shorts' comes from the adjective 'short', describing trousers that have been shortened. In the 1800s, soldiers and schoolboys began wearing trousers cut above the knee for comfort and movement. By the early 1900s, 'shorts' became an established noun for this style of clothing. The second meaning (men's underwear) developed in the 1930s when boxer-style underpants were introduced, named after the shorts worn by boxers in the ring.