Word
corduroy
Phoneticscor·duroy
US/ˈkɔɹdɝˌɔɪ/
UK/kˈɔːdjɔːɹˌɔɪ/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. a thick cotton cloth with soft raised lines running along it. People use it to make trousers, jackets and other warm clothes.
n. a durable cotton fabric with parallel raised ridges giving a ribbed texture. Used chiefly for trousers, jackets and upholstery.
Examples
“She wears a brown corduroy jacket in autumn.”
“He buys wide-wale corduroy trousers for winter because the thick fabric keeps him warm.”
“The vintage shop displayed a mustard corduroy blazer whose soft ridges caught the light, recalling campus fashion of the 1970s.”
Examples
simple
“She wears a brown corduroy jacket in autumn.”
contextual
“He buys wide-wale corduroy trousers for winter because the thick fabric keeps him warm.”
complex
“The vintage shop displayed a mustard corduroy blazer whose soft ridges caught the light, recalling campus fashion of the 1970s.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “corduroy” in context.
Verb
01. dress in corduroy
“She dressed in corduroy from head to toe for the autumn walk.”
verb + prep + noun
02. iron corduroy
“Iron corduroy on the reverse side to avoid crushing the pile.”
verb + noun
03. make from corduroy
“These comfortable trousers are made from corduroy.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
04. brown corduroy
“He paired a white shirt with brown corduroy trousers.”
adj + noun
Noun
05. corduroy jacket
“She wore an oversized corduroy jacket over a simple dress.”
noun + noun
06. corduroy trousers
“He bought a pair of dark corduroy trousers for work.”
noun + noun
07. length of corduroy
“He bought a length of corduroy to make winter trousers.”
noun + prep + noun
08. piece of corduroy
“She cut a small piece of corduroy to patch the elbow.”
noun + prep + noun
09. a pair of corduroy trousers
“He wore a pair of corduroy trousers with a wool sweater.”
10. a soft corduroy jacket
“She bought a soft corduroy jacket for the cold evenings.”
11. dressed in brown corduroy
“The teacher was dressed in brown corduroy and boots.”
12. made from thick corduroy
“The sofa cushions are made from thick corduroy.”
Real-World Examples
“An oversized leather jacket styled with corduroy or suede trousers is the way to effortlessly blend two aesthetics.” “One way to identify the new arrivals is by their mod clothes: carefully tailored corduroy pants, hip-snug military jackets, snap-brimmed hats like those worn by Australian soldiers (also known as Diggers).” “The collective wardrobe bore the hallmarks of British winter—knitted woolens, corduroys, Chelsea boots, and so on—but with a modish flair typical of this part of town: a tattoo here, a turtleneck there.” “Khaki, corduroy, and twill trousers are expected to dethrone premium denim and entice capricious consumers to shop.” Etymology
Origin uncertain. Probably from cord + duroy (“a 17th century coarse fabric made in England”). Probably not from French *corde du roi (“cloth of the king”), which is unattested in French, where the term for the corduroy is velours côtelé. Possibly from cordesoy from corde de soie (“rope of silk or silk-like fabric”), named for example in a 1756 advertisement for clothing fabrics; see Wikipedia article, and comparable in language form to the contemporary serg(e)dusoys (“silk serge”), see Serge (fabric).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/corduroy