Shirt: Meaning, Examples, and Common Types

Meaning 1：shirt (shirt)

shirt 🔊

/ʃɜːrt/

A piece of clothing for the upper body that usually has sleeves, a collar, and buttons down the front.

shirt 🔊

➕

/ʃɜːrt/

A shirt is a piece of clothing for the upper body, typically with sleeves, a collar, and buttons down the front.

📁 Category：Fashion Trends 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English scyrte, related to 'short'; originally a short garment.

💡 Mnemonic

Think: 'shirt' is short for upper body; it covers only the torso, not the legs.

📖 Example

He chose a crisp blue shirt for his job interview to look professional. 🔊 He chose a crisp blue shirt for his job interview to look professional.

🔗 Collocations

button-down shirt – a shirt with a collar that buttons down to the front

dress shirt – a formal shirt worn with a suit or tie

t-shirt – a casual short-sleeved shirt without a collar or buttons

🔄 Synonyms

blouse (n.) – a woman's shirt, often with a looser fit and decorative details

top (n.) – a general term for any piece of clothing worn on the upper body

tunic (n.) – a long, loose-fitting shirt that often reaches the hips

🚫 Antonyms

pants (n.) – a piece of clothing for the lower body

skirt (n.) – a garment for the lower body, typically worn by women

🌱 Derivatives

shirting (n.) – fabric used for making shirts

shirtless (adj.) – without a shirt on the upper body

shirted (adj.) – wearing a shirt

📖 Cultural Story

Old English 'scyrte' from Proto-Germanic '*skurtijō' meaning 'short garment'. Originally the same word as 'skirt', later differentiated: shirt became upper body, skirt lower body.