# jean

/ˈdʒin/ (US) · /dʒˈiːn/ (UK) · CEFR A2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/jean
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a type of strong cotton cloth used to make trousers. You usually see this material in blue, and it is very popular for casual clothes.

For teachers: a heavy, durable twilled cotton fabric, typically used for making trousers. Often used in the plural to refer to the garment itself.

## Examples

- She wears a jacket made of blue jean.
- The fashion designer experimented with different weights of jean to create a more flexible summer collection.
- While originally prized for its durability in manual labour, jean has evolved into a staple of global fashion, appearing in everything from high-end couture to everyday street wear.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I bought a new jean" but "I bought a new pair of jeans" — When referring to the clothing item, the word is always plural and requires 'a pair of' for a single item.

## Usage notes

- Uncountable when referring to the fabric itself; the plural form 'jeans' is used for the garment.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.