Word
Definition
n. strong trousers made of a heavy cotton cloth called denim. They are usually blue and are very popular for casual wear.
n. trousers made of denim or other durable cotton fabric, typically reinforced with rivets at the stress points. Takes a plural verb and is often used with the classifier 'pair of'.
Examples
“I usually wear blue jeans on the weekend.”
“Since the office has a casual dress code, most employees wear jeans and t-shirts to work.”
“Although originally designed as rugged workwear for miners and laborers, jeans have evolved into a global fashion staple worn across all social classes.”
Examples
simple
“I usually wear blue jeans on the weekend.”
contextual
“Since the office has a casual dress code, most employees wear jeans and t-shirts to work.”
complex
“Although originally designed as rugged workwear for miners and laborers, jeans have evolved into a global fashion staple worn across all social classes.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “jeans” in context.
Verb
01. buy jeans
“I want to buy jeans tomorrow.”
verb + noun
02. dress in jeans
“He likes to dress in jeans.”
verb + prep + noun
03. jeans fit
“These jeans fit well.”
noun + verb
04. put on jeans
“I put on jeans in the morning.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
05. black jeans
“She bought black jeans for the party.”
adj + noun
06. blue jeans
“I wear blue jeans every day.”
adj + noun
07. new jeans
“He has new jeans for school.”
adj + noun
08. old jeans
“I like my old jeans best.”
adj + noun
Noun
09. jeans pocket
“My phone is in my jeans pocket.”
noun + noun
10. pair of jeans
“I need a new pair of jeans.”
noun + prep + noun
11. a pair of jeans
“I bought a pair of jeans yesterday.”
12. my favourite jeans
“These are my favourite jeans.”
Usage
Always plural; requires a plural verb ('The jeans are...'). Use 'a pair of jeans' to refer to a single item.
Pitfall
I bought a new jean yesterday.
I bought a new pair of jeans yesterday.
Jeans is a plural-only noun; you cannot use the singular form 'a jean' to refer to the garment.
Real-World Examples
“In 1955, James Dean turned a simple pair of jeans into a symbol of youthful rebellion in Rebel Without a Cause.” “From slim to straight-leg styles, Hudson designs men's jeans that work for every occasion — from weekend outings to casual Fridays at the office.” Etymology
The word is derived from Gene or Jean, the obsolete English names for the Italian city of Genoa, and shares its lineage with the French Gênes. It originally identified a variety of coarse cotton known as Gene fustian, a textile associated with the city. By the 19th century, the term had migrated from the fabric to the trousers themselves.
During this transition, the final -s, which was integral to the name of the city, underwent a grammatical reanalysis. It was perceived by speakers not as the end of a proper noun, but as a plural suffix. The city was thus divided, linguistically if not geographically, to accommodate a pair of legs.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- 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.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL 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: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/jeans
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0