# pajamas

/pəˈdʒæməz/ (US) · /pɐdʒˈɑːməz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pajamas
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. sleepwear

noun · CEFR A1 · American English

clothes that you wear to bed, usually a soft shirt and matching trousers.

For teachers: garments designed for sleeping, typically consisting of a loose-fitting jacket or shirt and trousers. Plural-only; takes a plural verb.

- He put on his warm pajamas and got into bed.
- After a long day of travel, she looked forward to nothing more than changing into her silk pajamas and relaxing.

### 2. traditional trousers

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

loose trousers worn by people in some South Asian countries like India.

For teachers: loose-fitting trousers, often tied at the waist, worn by both sexes in various South Asian countries.

- The traditional outfit included a long tunic over loose pajamas.
- The exhibit featured historical garments from the Punjab region, including intricately embroidered cotton pajamas.

### 3. sports uniform

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Humorous · British English

a nickname for the brightly coloured uniforms worn in some cricket matches.

For teachers: a slang term for the brightly coloured kits worn by players in limited-overs cricket matches, contrasting with traditional white clothing.

- The team debuted their new neon pajamas for the night match.
- Purists often complain about the 'pajamas' worn in one-day internationals, preferring the classic aesthetic of Test match whites.

## Examples

- I put on my pajamas before getting into bed.
- After a long day at work, she changed into her silk pajamas and relaxed on the sofa.
- While traditionally reserved for the bedroom, certain fashion trends have seen pajama-style silhouettes adapted for daytime streetwear, blending domestic comfort with public high-fashion aesthetics.

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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.