dungaree
B1Informal, slightly dated in some uses.
Definition
Meaning
A type of sturdy cotton fabric, typically blue, used for work clothes.
A garment, typically overalls or trousers, made from this fabric. In British English, often refers specifically to trousers with a bib and shoulder straps (overalls). In American English, commonly refers to loose-fitting trousers made of this fabric (often 'dungarees' as a synonym for blue jeans).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a countable noun when referring to the garment ('a pair of dungarees'). Can be an uncountable noun when referring to the fabric. Often used in plural form.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'dungarees' primarily denotes a one-piece garment with a bib and shoulder straps (similar to overalls). In American English, 'dungarees' is a dated/older term for blue jeans or sturdy cotton trousers.
Connotations
UK: Often associated with children's clothing, practical workwear, or casual fashion. US: Connotes old-fashioned work trousers, the precursor to modern jeans; can sound quaint or historical.
Frequency
More common in contemporary UK English, especially regarding children's clothing. In US English, the term is largely supplanted by 'jeans' or 'overalls', and is less frequent.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
wear + dungareesa pair of + dungareesbe dressed in + dungareesmade of + dungaree (fabric)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Dressed in blue dungarees (implies a working-class or practical appearance).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in retail/ fashion describing product lines.
Academic
Rare, may appear in historical or cultural studies of workwear.
Everyday
Used for describing a type of casual/play clothing, especially for children.
Technical
In textiles, refers to a specific coarse cotton fabric.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He dungareed himself up for the messy gardening job. (very informal, rare)
American English
- The workers dungareed themselves before the shift. (archaic, rare)
adjective
British English
- She bought a dungaree dress for her toddler.
American English
- He wore his old dungaree pants to the barn.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The little boy wears blue dungarees.
- She bought a new pair of striped dungarees for the summer festival.
- Traditionally, farm labourers would be clad in sturdy denim dungarees to protect their everyday clothes.
- The term 'dungarees', etymologically linked to a district in Mumbai, has undergone a fascinating semantic shift in its journey through British and American Englishes.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a DONkey wearing overalls made of thick fabric while working in a field; the DONkey's overalls are DUNGArees.
Conceptual Metaphor
DUNGAREES ARE PROTECTIVE ARMOUR (against dirt, wear).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque from 'джинсы' (jeans). 'Dungarees' are not exactly modern jeans. In UK, think 'комбинезон' or 'спецовка'. In US historical context, it's an old word for jeans.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'dungaree' as a singular for one garment (usually 'dungarees' is plural). Confusing with 'jeans' in modern American contexts.
Practice
Quiz
In contemporary British English, 'dungarees' most commonly refers to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The word for the garment is almost always used in the plural: 'dungarees'. The singular 'dungaree' is used for the fabric ('made of dungaree').
Historically, in American English, they were synonyms. Now, 'jeans' is standard. In British English, dungarees refer to overalls (with a bib), while jeans are close-fitting trousers without a bib.
Yes, they periodically return to fashion as casual or streetwear, particularly in women's and children's clothing.
It originates from 'Dungri', a district in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India, where this type of coarse cotton cloth was first produced.