sunglasses

IPA/ˈsʌnɡlɑːsɪz/
KK[sˈʌnɡlˌæsɪz]IPA/ˈsʌnɡlæsɪz/

sunglasses — noun

1. Glasses with dark or coloured lenses that reduce the amount of light reaching yo

1.nounA2
Definition

Glasses with dark or coloured lenses that reduce the amount of light reaching your eyes, making it more comfortable to be outside when the sun is bright.

Example

Asher put on his sunglasses before stepping out onto the sunny beach.

collocation: put on + sunglasses

When the afternoon sun grew too bright, Quan reached for his sunglasses.

subordinate clause: when + condition, reach for sunglasses

Common collocations
  • put on sunglasses
  • take off sunglasses
  • wear sunglasses
  • a pair of sunglasses
  • designer sunglasses
  • polarized sunglasses
Synonyms
  • shades

    informal term, very common in casual conversation

  • dark glasses

    slightly old-fashioned but still understood; describes the appearance rather than the function

  • sun specs

    informal, less common than 'shades'

Grammar Patterns

a pair of + sunglasses

Usage Note

Sunglasses is a plural noun — use 'a pair of sunglasses' when referring to one item. Do not say 'a sunglasses' or 'sunglass' for the eyewear.

Common Mistakes

I bought a new sunglasses yesterday.
I bought a new pair of sunglasses yesterday.
'Sunglasses' is a plural noun and cannot directly follow 'a'.
Please pass me my sunglass.
Please pass me my sunglasses.
The singular form 'sunglass' is only used for an individual lens or lens blank, not for the eyewear item.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Sunglasses is the general term for eyewear with tinted or darkened lenses worn outdoors to block bright sunlight. 'Shades' is a very common informal synonym used in everyday conversation ('Nice shades, where did you get them?'). 'Aviators' refers specifically to sunglasses with large teardrop-shaped lenses and thin metal frames, originally designed for pilots. 'Goggles' are tight-fitting eyewear that wrap around the head, used for swimming, skiing, or lab safety — not interchangeable with sunglasses. 'Spectacles' (or simply 'glasses') are primarily for vision correction and may or may not have tinted lenses. Example: 'She wore stylish aviators to the café' vs. 'He grabbed his goggles before jumping into the pool.'

shades ↗aviators ↗goggles ↗spectacles ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • a pair of sunglasses

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishModern English

The word 'sunglasses' is a compound formed from 'sun' (from Old English sunne, meaning the star around which the Earth orbits) and 'glasses' (plural of 'glass', from Old English glæs). The term came into common use in the early 20th century when tinted eyewear became widely popular for outdoor leisure and driving.