ENGLISH
REFERENCE

lingerie

n. C / U
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɫɑnʒɝˌeɪ// UK //lˈɒnʒəɹˌi// lin·gerie Archaic

n. women's underwear and sleepwear, such as bras, panties, and nightgowns. It usually refers to soft, comfortable, or decorative clothing worn next to the skin.

n. women's undergarments and nightwear, typically made of soft, light fabrics. Uncountable in general use; countable when referring to specific items or styles.


SIMPLE

She bought new lingerie for the weekend.

CONTEXTUAL

The boutique specializes in silk lingerie and delicate sleepwear.

COMPLEX

Her collection of vintage lingerie reflected the changing fashion trends of the early twentieth century.

Origin

Borrowed from French lingerie (“linen closet”). The irregular pronunciation is a hyperforeignism; it may derive from the frequent shift of /ɛ̃/ (which is this word's first vowel in standard French) toward /ɑ̃/ or [æ̃] in European French, which also tends to be drifted towards /ɔ̃/.

© 2026 English Reference