ENGLISH
REFERENCE

skirt

n. countable
A1 Beginner Oxford US //ˈskɝt// UK //skˈɜːt// skirt General-service Informal Slang Vulgar

n. a piece of clothing that hangs from the waist and covers part of the legs. It is usually worn by women and girls.

n. a garment fastened around the waist and hanging down around the legs. While historically varied in length and style, it is primarily categorised as female attire in modern Western contexts.


SIMPLE

She wears a long blue skirt to the office.

CONTEXTUAL

The school uniform requires students to wear a dark grey skirt or trousers with a white shirt.

COMPLEX

The designer's spring collection featured a pleated silk skirt that moved fluidly with every step, contrasting sharply with the structured wool blazer worn above it.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English skyrte, from Old Norse skyrta, from Proto-Germanic *skurtijǭ. Doublet of shirt. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Skoarte (“apron”), Dutch schort (“apron”), German Schürze (“apron”), Danish skørt (“skirt”), Swedish skört (“hem of a jacket”), Norwegian skjørt (“skirt”).

Idioms2 entries

© 2026 English Reference