garment
GAR-munt
/ˈɡɑːmənt/
An individual piece of clothing.
A technical or formal word for a single item like a shirt, a pair of pants, or a dress.
The story behind the word. Rooted in the Old French 'garnement,' derived from 'garnir,' meaning 'to equip' or 'to garnish.' In the Middle Ages, a garment was the essential equipment needed to 'garnish' or protect the body.
Word relationships
- piece of clothing: The standard, less formal way to say the same thing.
- article of clothing: A slightly more formal alternative, often used in legal or official contexts.
Commonly confused with
- apparel: Apparel is the category; a garment is the specific unit.
Word family
- garments (noun): Plural form of garment.
Collocations
- outer garment
- garment industry
- delicate garment
Example sentences
- "I have no more garments than backs to my back." A line from Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew.
- "This garment is made of delicate silk and should be dry cleaned only." A care label on a piece of clothing.
Memory hook
A 'garment' is like a 'guard' for your 'ment' (body). A single item of clothing.
When not to use
In casual speech, people usually just name the item (e.g., 'that shirt') rather than calling it a 'garment.'
Fun facts
- The 'garment district' in New York City was once the center of clothing manufacturing for the entire United States.
Related words
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