crew neck: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to informal; common in fashion, retail, and everyday contexts.
Quick answer
What does “crew neck” mean?
A type of round, close-fitting neckline on a garment, without a collar, typically on a sweater, T-shirt, or jumper.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of round, close-fitting neckline on a garment, without a collar, typically on a sweater, T-shirt, or jumper.
Can refer to the garment itself featuring such a neckline (e.g., a crew-neck jumper). In broader usage, it signifies a simple, classic, and casual style of neckline.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is virtually identical. The term is standard in both varieties. Minor potential differences in collocating garments (e.g., 'jumper' vs. 'sweater').
Connotations
Neutral in both; implies practicality, simplicity, and casual style.
Frequency
Equally common in both UK and US English, especially in clothing descriptions.
Grammar
How to Use “crew neck” in a Sentence
[garment] with a crew necka crew-neck [garment]in a crew neckVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crew neck” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He prefers a classic crew-neck jumper for casual Fridays.
- The new line features several crew-neck tops.
American English
- She bought a comfortable crew-neck sweatshirt.
- Look for the crew-neck tee in the men's section.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in retail, ecommerce, and fashion manufacturing to describe product specifications and style.
Academic
Rare; might appear in texts on fashion history or textile design.
Everyday
Common when discussing clothing, shopping, or describing personal style.
Technical
Standard term in pattern making, garment construction, and fashion terminology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “crew neck”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “crew neck”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crew neck”
- Misspelling as 'crewnick' or 'cru neck'.
- Using 'crew neck' to refer to a turtleneck or collarless shirt with a different neckline.
- Incorrect pluralisation: 'crews neck' instead of 'crew necks'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is most commonly written as two separate words ('crew neck'), especially as a noun. When used attributively as an adjective, it is often hyphenated ('crew-neck sweater').
It is named after the style of sweater traditionally worn by rowing (or 'crew') teams in the early 1900s, which featured this simple, round neckline.
Yes, it can refer to any garment with that style of neckline, including T-shirts, jumpers, sweatshirts, dresses, and tops. The term describes the neckline, not the garment type.
The shape. A crew neck is a round, circular opening that fits close to the base of the neck. A V-neck forms a 'V' shape down the chest. This changes the formality and visual effect of the garment.
A type of round, close-fitting neckline on a garment, without a collar, typically on a sweater, T-shirt, or jumper.
Crew neck is usually neutral to informal; common in fashion, retail, and everyday contexts. in register.
Crew neck: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkruː nɛk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkruː nɛk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a rowing CREW wearing simple, round-necked sweaters. The CREW's NECKline is plain and round.
Conceptual Metaphor
NECKLINE AS A SHAPE (container schema).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a direct antonym of 'crew neck' in clothing terminology?