denim
noun
den·im ˈde-nəm 
1
a
: a firm durable twilled usually cotton fabric woven with colored warp and white filling threads
b
: a similar fabric woven in colored stripes
2
denims plural : overalls or trousers usually of blue denim
denimed
ˈde-nəmd
adjective 
Did you know?
Many fabrics have been named for the places where they were once made. Denim gets its name from Nîmes, a city in France famous for its textiles. But the name came about in an unusual way. The fabric, a heavy serge, was originally called serge de Nîmes, literally, “serge from Nîmes.” The “s” on Nîmes is not pronounced in French, so when the name of the fabric came into English, it was often written serge de Nim and later serge denim. In time, this was shortened to simply denim.
Example Sentences
He's wearing faded denims and cowboy boots.
Recent Examples on the Web As for this look, a shredded denim dress with the freshest leather tote that combines books and luxury? 
Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 9 Sep. 2022 Rather than sewing the denim pieces all at once, sew each strip individually onto a piece of cotton batting. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2022 Kaia wears a looser denim cut that slips seamlessly over her ankle boots, and they're hemmed to not bunch up at the top of her shoe. Hannah Oh, Seventeen, 8 Sep. 2022 Many high-end denim brands have come and gone since Paige launched in 2004. Staff Author Published, Peoplemag, 7 Sep. 2022 The rapper opted for a silver-blue wig while coordinating denim outfits with her husband Offset, and their kiddos on the same day. Chelsea Avila, Allure, 7 Sep. 2022 The party was every kid’s dream with activities such as model car racing and denim jacket customizations for people to engage with. Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 6 Sep. 2022 Whether you’re headed back to campus or college is a distant memory, one thing remains certain: Urban Outfitters denim belongs in your closet. Talia Abbas, Glamour, 6 Sep. 2022 No closet is complete without some trusty denim, and many of Meghan's go-to pairs are courtesy of Mother. Sam Peters, Town & Country, 2 Sep. 2022 See More
Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 9 Sep. 2022 Rather than sewing the denim pieces all at once, sew each strip individually onto a piece of cotton batting. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2022 Kaia wears a looser denim cut that slips seamlessly over her ankle boots, and they're hemmed to not bunch up at the top of her shoe. Hannah Oh, Seventeen, 8 Sep. 2022 Many high-end denim brands have come and gone since Paige launched in 2004. Staff Author Published, Peoplemag, 7 Sep. 2022 The rapper opted for a silver-blue wig while coordinating denim outfits with her husband Offset, and their kiddos on the same day. Chelsea Avila, Allure, 7 Sep. 2022 The party was every kid’s dream with activities such as model car racing and denim jacket customizations for people to engage with. Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 6 Sep. 2022 Whether you’re headed back to campus or college is a distant memory, one thing remains certain: Urban Outfitters denim belongs in your closet. Talia Abbas, Glamour, 6 Sep. 2022 No closet is complete without some trusty denim, and many of Meghan's go-to pairs are courtesy of Mother. Sam Peters, Town & Country, 2 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
French (serge) de Nîmes serge of Nîmes, France
First Known Use
1695, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
denim
noun
den·im ˈde-nəm
1
: a firm often coarse cotton cloth
2
denims plural : overalls or pants of usually blue denim
denims
plural noun
as in jeans
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- jeans
- corduroys
- trousers
- pants
- slacks
- blue jeans
- cargo pants
- pantaloons
- baggies
- sweatpants
- cords
- britches
- bell-bottoms
- leggin
- hose
- legging
- pantsuit
- breech
- pants suit
- knickerbockers
- knee breeches
- bloomers