panties

Q: What does "panties" mean?

1. (women's underwear) a piece of underwear worn by women and girls that covers the area between the waist and the top of the legs.

Q: Is it correct to say "She bought a new panty."?

No — say "She bought a new pair of panties.". Like 'trousers' or 'glasses', this word is plural-only. Use 'a pair of' to count them.

Definition

n. a piece of underwear worn by women and girls that covers the area between the waist and the top of the legs.

n. a plural-only noun denoting a close-fitting undergarment for the lower torso, specifically designed for women or girls.

simple

“She packed several pairs of cotton panties for her weekend trip.”

contextual

“The clothing store has a large section dedicated to matching bras and panties in various styles.”

complex

“The evolution of undergarments from heavy petticoats to lightweight panties reflects broader shifts in textile technology and social attitudes toward female mobility.”

This noun is plural-only and takes a plural verb; it is frequently used with the classifier 'a pair of'.

In British English, 'knickers' is the more common everyday term, while 'panties' can sometimes sound overly clinical or slightly sexualised depending on the context.

She bought a new panty.

She bought a new pair of panties.

Like 'trousers' or 'glasses', this word is plural-only. Use 'a pair of' to count them.

knickersunderpants briefs

VERB

pant(B1)

NOUN

panties(B2)

panty(C1)