# stockings

/ˈstɑkɪŋz/ (US) · /stˈɒkɪŋz/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. clothing for legs

noun · CEFR B1

thin, stretchy clothing that covers your legs and feet, usually worn under a skirt or dress.

For teachers: a pair of tight-fitting, elasticated garments covering the foot and leg, often held up by garters or a suspender belt.

- She wore black stockings with her dress for the formal dinner party.
- The historical costume required silk stockings and authentic footwear to maintain the period's aesthetic accuracy.

Usage: Usually plural; the singular 'stocking' refers to one leg's garment.

### 2. Christmas decoration

noun · CEFR B1

a large, decorative sock that people hang up at Christmas to be filled with small gifts.

For teachers: an oversized, decorative sock-shaped bag hung on Christmas Eve for the receipt of small gifts.

- The children woke up early to see what was inside their Christmas stockings.
- By tradition, the family hung their embroidered stockings from the mantelpiece, each one filled with fruit, sweets, and small trinkets.

Usage: Often used in the singular when referring to one person's gift bag.

### 3. pantyhose

noun · CEFR B2 · British English · Dialect

a single piece of clothing that covers the legs and the bottom.

For teachers: a one-piece garment covering the legs and hips; synonymous with pantyhose in certain regional dialects.

- I need to buy a new pair of stockings because these have a hole in them.
- In Australian and New Zealand English, the term stockings is frequently used to describe what Americans call pantyhose.

Usage: In this sense, it is a plural-only noun.

## Examples

- She bought a new pair of black stockings for the party.
- In the early twentieth century, silk stockings were considered a luxury item for most working-class families.
- The historical transition from wool to nylon stockings marked a significant shift in both textile manufacturing and the accessibility of high-fashion aesthetics for the general public.

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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.