# tights

/ˈtaɪts/ (US) · /tˈaɪts/ (UK) · CEFR A2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tights
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

a piece of clothing made of thin, stretchy fabric that covers your legs and feet. You usually wear them under a skirt or dress.

For teachers: a close-fitting garment made of knitted yarn, covering the body from the waist to the toes. Takes a plural verb and is often measured by denier for thickness.

## Examples

- She bought a new pair of black tights for the party.
- Because the weather was getting colder, she decided to wear thick woollen tights under her uniform.
- The dancer carefully checked her tights for any small holes or ladders before stepping onto the stage for the final performance.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I need a new tight" but "I need new tights" — The word is always plural; you cannot use the singular form to refer to one garment.

## Usage notes

- Pluralia tantum — takes a plural verb. Often used with the classifier 'a pair of'.

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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.