English Reference
Adjective

oversized

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈoʊvɝˌsaɪzd/ UK /ˌəʊvəsˈaɪzd/ over·sized

adj.much larger than the usual size. You often use this to describe clothes that are meant to look big and loose.

adj.larger than the standard or expected size for a specific category. Often used to describe garments designed with a loose, voluminous fit.


SIMPLE

She loves wearing oversized sweaters in the winter.

CONTEXTUAL

The fashion brand is famous for its oversized coats that create a modern, relaxed silhouette.

COMPLEX

While some critics argued the oversized proportions of the sculpture overwhelmed the small gallery, others felt the scale was necessary to convey the artist's message about industrial growth.

Usage

Can be used both attributively before a noun and predicatively after a linking verb.

More than a dozen of them are dressed in oversized men's shirts and loose trousers to show they are as strong as men.

Al Jazeera· 14 Aug 2026

The team’s shirts turned out to be a more timeless design than the loud, oversized suits that Marti Pellow’s crew wore the day they unveiled them.

The Guardian· 9 Aug 2026

From over- + sized.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated