Definitions
01clothing for warmth
A1 · Beginner Countable noun American English
n. a warm piece of clothing with long sleeves, often made of wool, that you wear over your shirt.
n. a knitted or crocheted garment covering the upper body and arms, typically worn for warmth.
日本語:セーター※
“It was a cold morning, so he put on a thick wool sweater before going outside.”
“She opted for a lightweight cashmere sweater that provided sufficient insulation against the autumn chill without being overly bulky under her coat.”
Usage
In British English, this is more commonly called a 'jumper'.
Teaching tip
While 'sweater' is understood globally, teachers should note that 'jumper' is the standard term in the UK and Australia for the same garment.
02someone who perspires
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Technical
n. a person who produces a lot of sweat from their skin.
n. an individual who perspires, particularly one prone to heavy perspiration during physical exertion.
“He is a heavy sweater, so he always drinks plenty of water during his workout.”
“The study monitored heavy sweaters to determine the rate of electrolyte loss during prolonged exposure to high humidity.”
Usage
Usually used in medical or physiological contexts.
Teaching tip
This sense is rare in everyday conversation; learners will almost always encounter the word as a piece of clothing.
Etymology
From Middle English swētere, equivalent to sweat + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/sweater
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR