boxer shorts: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium-HighInformal, Colloquial (Neutral when specifying clothing type)
Quick answer
What does “boxer shorts” mean?
A type of loose-fitting men's underwear with an elastic waistband and leg openings, traditionally reaching mid-thigh.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of loose-fitting men's underwear with an elastic waistband and leg openings, traditionally reaching mid-thigh.
May refer generally to any men's underwear with a similar loose, short-legged design, distinct from briefs. Sometimes used informally in plural form 'boxers'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term identically. 'Boxers' is a common shortened form in both.
Connotations
Neutral in both, though slightly more casual than 'briefs'.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “boxer shorts” in a Sentence
wear + boxer shortsa pair of + boxer shortsin + (one's) + boxer shortsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “boxer shorts” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He prefers a boxer-shorts style.
- The boxer-shorts material was soft.
American English
- He prefers a boxer-shorts style.
- The boxer-shorts material was soft.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in retail or manufacturing contexts (e.g., 'Our spring line includes new boxer shorts').
Academic
Very rare, possibly in historical/cultural studies of fashion.
Everyday
Common in casual conversation about clothing and shopping.
Technical
Used in textile, design, and retail industries to specify a product category.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “boxer shorts”
- Using singular 'boxer short' (use plural). Confusing with 'boxer briefs' (a hybrid style).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Boxer shorts are loose and baggy. Boxer briefs are form-fitting and longer in the leg, combining features of briefs and boxer shorts.
Yes, 'boxers' is a very common and acceptable informal shortening of 'boxer shorts' in everyday speech.
Yes, while traditionally marketed to men, women can and do wear boxer shorts as sleepwear, loungewear, or underwear.
They are named for their resemblance to the shorts worn by boxers (the athletes) in the ring, which are loose and short-legged.
A type of loose-fitting men's underwear with an elastic waistband and leg openings, traditionally reaching mid-thigh.
Boxer shorts is usually informal, colloquial (neutral when specifying clothing type) in register.
Boxer shorts: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɒks.ə ʃɔːts/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɑːk.sɚ ʃɔːrts/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Caught with your boxer shorts down (variant of 'caught with your pants down')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'boxer' (fighter) wearing loose shorts for training; these underwear resemble those shorts.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNDERWEAR IS ARMOUR/CLOTHING FOR PRIVACY.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a typical characteristic of boxer shorts?