# weeds

/ˈwidz/ (US) · /wˈiːdz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/weeds
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 3. clothing

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

an old word for clothes, especially the black clothes someone wears when a relative dies.

For teachers: an archaic term for garments or apparel; most commonly surviving in the phrase 'widow's weeds' to describe mourning attire.

- The widow was dressed in her black weeds for the funeral service.
- The protagonist appeared at the gala not in festive attire, but in the somber weeds of a man who had recently suffered a great loss.

Usage: Almost exclusively used in the plural form.

Teaching tip: This sense is rare in modern English; students will likely only encounter it in 19th-century literature or historical dramas.

## Examples

- I spent the whole morning pulling weeds out of the garden.
- If you do not remove the weeds early in the season, they will eventually choke the vegetables.
- The abandoned lot was quickly overtaken by tall weeds and invasive vines, obscuring the foundation of the original building.

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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.