English Reference
Adjective

sleeveless

adj.
B1 Intermediate US /ˈsɫivɫɪs/ UK /slˈiːvləs/ sleeve·less

adj.having no sleeves. You use this to describe a piece of clothing like a dress or a shirt that does not cover the arms.

adj.lacking sleeves; not having a covering for the arms. Often used to describe garments such as dresses, blouses, or jackets.


SIMPLE

She wore a beautiful sleeveless dress to the party.

CONTEXTUAL

The athlete chose a sleeveless shirt to stay cool during the summer training session.

COMPLEX

The designer's latest collection features several sleeveless silhouettes that emphasize the wearer's shoulders and arms, creating a more modern and relaxed aesthetic.


From Middle English slevelees, sleveles, from Old English slīeflēas (“sleeveless”), equivalent to sleeve + -less.

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

This entry
Origin Old English slīeflēas
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated