cargo pants: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumInformal, Casual
Quick answer
What does “cargo pants” mean?
Trousers with large patch pockets, typically on the sides of the thighs, originally designed for practical storage.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Trousers with large patch pockets, typically on the sides of the thighs, originally designed for practical storage.
A style of casual trousers characterized by multiple large pockets, often associated with utility, military-inspired fashion, or casual streetwear.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is identical in both varieties. British English may occasionally use 'cargo trousers' interchangeably, but 'cargo pants' is dominant.
Connotations
Similar connotations of practicality, casualness, and a military or utilitarian style in both regions.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English, but very common in both.
Grammar
How to Use “cargo pants” in a Sentence
wear + cargo pantsput on + cargo pantsbe dressed in + cargo pantsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cargo pants” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He decided to cargo-pants it for the hiking trip. (informal, non-standard)
American English
- She cargo-pantsed her whole outfit. (informal, non-standard)
adjective
British English
- The cargo-pants look is back in style.
American English
- He has a cargo-pants vibe with all those pockets.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in fashion retail or manufacturing contexts.
Academic
Rare, potentially in studies of fashion, sociology, or material culture.
Everyday
Very common when discussing casual clothing, fashion, or practical attire.
Technical
Used in fashion design, textile, and apparel industry terminology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cargo pants”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cargo pants”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cargo pants”
- Using 'cargo' as an adjective for other garments incorrectly (e.g., 'cargo shirt' is less standard). Treating it as an uncountable noun (e.g., 'I bought a cargo pant').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are very similar. Combat pants are a specific military style that often includes cargo pockets, so many combat pants are cargo pants, but not all cargo pants are strictly military-style combat pants.
No, 'pants' is a plurale tantum noun in English. You refer to 'a pair of cargo pants' or 'these cargo pants'.
They originated from military trousers (like the British Army's 1940s Battle Dress trousers) and saw widespread civilian popularity as casual wear from the 1990s onwards, with periodic revivals in fashion.
Fashion is cyclical. Cargo pants move in and out of mainstream fashion. They are generally considered casual, utilitarian wear but are often incorporated into streetwear and high-fashion contexts.
Trousers with large patch pockets, typically on the sides of the thighs, originally designed for practical storage.
Cargo pants is usually informal, casual in register.
Cargo pants: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɑː.ɡəʊ ˌpænts/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːr.ɡoʊ ˌpænts/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Pockets for days (informal expression highlighting the many pockets of cargo pants)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CAR GOing on a trip; it needs lots of storage. CARGO PANTS have lots of pocket storage for your trip.
Conceptual Metaphor
CLOTHING IS A CONTAINER (the pockets are containers for possessions).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary defining feature of cargo pants?