hoodie: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighInformal
Quick answer
What does “hoodie” mean?
A piece of casual clothing, typically a sweatshirt or jacket, with a hood that can be pulled over the head.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A piece of casual clothing, typically a sweatshirt or jacket, with a hood that can be pulled over the head.
A person who wears such a garment, often associated with youth culture or, in some contexts, with anti-social behaviour (especially when the hood is worn up). Also, a type of crow (Corvus cornix) known as a hooded crow, where the name originates as a diminutive.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The garment sense is identical and equally common. Spelling: both use 'hoodie'. The bird sense is more likely in UK contexts where the hooded crow is native.
Connotations
In both varieties, the garment is strongly associated with casual wear and youth. In UK media, the term has stronger historical associations with 'hoodie culture' and perceptions of anti-social youth (early 2000s), though this has softened. In the US, the association is more neutrally with comfort and casual style.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties for the garment sense.
Grammar
How to Use “hoodie” in a Sentence
wear a hoodieput on/take off a hoodiebe dressed in a hoodiea hoodie with [logo/pockets]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hoodie” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was just hoodie-ing about the house all day.
- (slang, rare, derived from wearing a hoodie to lounge)
American English
- (Standard verb use is not established; the word is almost exclusively a noun.)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial use.)
American English
- (No standard adverbial use.)
adjective
British English
- The hoodie trend peaked in the mid-2000s.
- (as a compound modifier)
American English
- She preferred a hoodie dress for casual Friday.
- (as a compound modifier)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Uncommon, except in retail/fashion contexts (e.g., 'Our Q3 line features new hoodie designs').
Academic
Rare, except in sociological/cultural studies discussing youth identity or fashion.
Everyday
Extremely common as a term for the garment.
Technical
Used in fashion design and textile manufacturing specifications.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hoodie”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hoodie”
- Misspelling as 'hoody' (acceptable variant but less standard).
- Using 'hoodie' to refer to any sweatshirt without a hood.
- Incorrect plural: 'hoodies' (not 'hoodys').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. All hoodies are a type of sweatshirt, but the defining feature of a hoodie is the attached hood. A sweatshirt may or may not have a hood.
Yes, but primarily in specific contexts. When referring to a person (e.g., 'a gang of hoodies'), it can carry negative stereotypes from media portrayals. However, the garment sense itself is neutral.
A pullover hoodie is put on over the head, while a zip-up hoodie has a full-length zipper down the front, making it easier to put on and take off and allowing for more ventilation.
It is a recognised variant, but 'hoodie' is the more standard and frequent spelling in published texts and dictionaries.
A piece of casual clothing, typically a sweatshirt or jacket, with a hood that can be pulled over the head.
Hoodie is usually informal in register.
Hoodie: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhʊd.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhʊd.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hoodie culture”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the word 'HOOD' and add '-ie' for something small or familiar: a sweatshirt with a little hood.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMFORT IS A HOODIE (e.g., 'This policy is the economic equivalent of a worn-out hoodie').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'hoodie' LEAST likely to be used?