Word
footwear
US/ˈfʊtˌwɛɹ/
UK/fˈʊtweə/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. things you wear on your feet, such as shoes, boots, or sandals. You use this word when talking about all types of shoes as a group.
n. a collective term for items worn on the feet, including shoes, boots, and sandals, designed for protection or fashion.
Examples
“Please remove your footwear before entering the house.”
“The sign at the gym entrance reminds members that appropriate athletic footwear is required on the basketball court.”
“Specialised footwear designed for high-altitude climbing must provide both thermal insulation and compatibility with crampons to ensure the safety of the mountaineer.”
Examples
simple
“Please remove your footwear before entering the house.”
contextual
“The sign at the gym entrance reminds members that appropriate athletic footwear is required on the basketball court.”
complex
“Specialised footwear designed for high-altitude climbing must provide both thermal insulation and compatibility with crampons to ensure the safety of the mountaineer.”
Usage
Uncountable; refers to the category of items rather than individual shoes.
Pitfall
I bought two footwears
I bought two pairs of shoes
Footwear is uncountable and cannot be used with numbers or in the plural form.
Etymology
From foot + -wear.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- 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.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL 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: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/footwear