underclothes

[uhn-der-klohz, -klohthz]

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. clothes clothes worn under outer clothes. clothes.

2. underwear.

underclothes

/ ˈʌndəˌkləʊðz /

plural noun

1. Also called: underclothing. a variant of underwear

Word History and Origins

Origin of underclothes¹

First recorded in 1825–35; under- + clothes

Example Sentences

Children ran from the building stripped to their underclothes, their garments burned off, their skin blistering in the intense heat.

From BBC

And Helena needed a dress, shoes, underclothes, a nightgown, and probably other things I hadn’t thought of yet.

From Literature

Ono remained silent as audience members cut small scraps, larger pieces and, eventually, parts of her underclothes.

From Washington Post

Clerics faced down troublesome non-churchmen by forcing them to publicly confess their sins before their whole community, to pray all night in church in their underclothes – and sometimes to go on pilgrimages.

From The Guardian

There were no clothes or underclothes or shoes anywhere.

From Literature

Related Words

• bikini 
• bra 
• corset 
• lingerie 
• shorts 
• undergarment 
• underpants 
• undershirt