denims
B1Informal, Common
Definition
Meaning
Casual trousers, typically made of denim fabric, often blue and designed for durability.
Refers to the garment itself (jeans) but also, more narrowly, to the style or material of such trousers, often used informally to mean 'a pair of jeans'.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word 'denims' is treated as a plural noun, much like 'jeans', 'trousers', or 'pants'. It inherently refers to a pair. The singular 'denim' refers only to the fabric. It can imply a specific style of denim trousers, not necessarily just any trousers made from denim.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'denims' is a common, informal term. In American English, 'jeans' is overwhelmingly preferred, with 'denims' sounding slightly more formal, old-fashioned, or like a marketing term for various types of denim trousers.
Connotations
UK: Informal, everyday wear. US: Can sound generic (e.g., a clothing category for denim pants) or dated.
Frequency
Common in UK informal speech; less frequent in US, where 'jeans' dominates.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
wear + denimsput on + denimsa pair of + denimsdenims + are/verbVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Live in your denims”
- “A trusty pair of denims”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; might appear in retail/fashion contexts (e.g., 'Denim sales are up, particularly in women's denims').
Academic
Virtually never used.
Everyday
Very common in UK; common in US in specific contexts (e.g., shopping for 'denims').
Technical
Used in textile, fashion, and garment manufacturing to specify product categories.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He wears blue denims every day.
- I need to buy a new pair of denims.
- Her faded denims had holes in the knees.
- For the casual party, just put on some denims and a t-shirt.
- The store specialises in high-end designer denims from Italy.
- He argued that well-fitted denims could be smart-casual attire.
- The cultural shift saw denims evolve from workwear to a symbol of youthful rebellion.
- Sustainable production methods for organic cotton denims are gaining market traction.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
DENIMS: Durable Everyday Need In My Suitcase – the plural 's' reminds you it's always a pair.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMFORT IS CASUAL CLOTHING ('He slipped into his old denims and relaxed').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'джинсы' as 'jeans' is more direct. 'Denims' is acceptable but less common than 'jeans' in AmE.
- Do not use singular 'denim' for the garment. 'Denim' = ткань, 'denims' = джинсы (пара).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'denim' as a singular countable noun for the garment (e.g., 'I bought a new denim').
- Treating 'denims' as singular (e.g., 'This denims is dirty').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'denims' used correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is always plural, referring to a pair of trousers. You say 'these denims are...' not 'this denims is...'.
'Denim' is the uncountable fabric (made of cotton). 'Denims' is the countable, plural-only noun for the trousers made from that fabric.
It is more commonly used in British English. In American English, 'jeans' is the standard everyday term, though 'denims' is understood.
No. You must say 'a pair of denims' just as you say 'a pair of jeans' or 'a pair of trousers'.
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