What does "singles" mean?

1. (unmarried people) people who are not married or do not have a romantic partner. 2. (one-on-one sports) a game or match played between two individual players rather than teams. 3. (individual items) more than one individual thing, such as music records with only one main song.

How do you use "singles"?

Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the category of play, or plural when referring to multiple matches.

singles

US //ˈsɪŋɡəɫz// UK //sˈɪŋɡəlz// sin·gles

1 unmarried people (n.)
B1 Intermediate

people who are not married or do not have a romantic partner.

individuals who are unmarried or not currently in a committed romantic relationship.

Example

The hotel is hosting a special dinner for singles on Valentine's Day.

Example

The cruise line offers specific social mixers designed for singles who wish to meet other solo travellers during the voyage.
- unmarried people
- unattached people
- couples
2 one-on-one sports (n.)
B1 Intermediate Sport

a game or match played between two individual players rather than teams.

a format of play in sports such as tennis or badminton involving exactly one player on each side.

Example

She won the women's singles title after a very long final match.

Example

While he excels in doubles due to his net play, his performance in the men's singles has been inconsistent this season.

Usage

Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the category of play, or plural when referring to multiple matches.
- one on one
- doubles

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3 individual items (n.)
B1 Intermediate Music

more than one individual thing, such as music records with only one main song.

the plural form of 'single', referring to individual units, specifically music recordings featuring one or two tracks.

Example

The band released three singles before their full album finally came out.

Example

Digital platforms have changed how artists profit from singles compared to the era of physical vinyl sales.
- records
- tracks
- albums