jogging suit
B1informal
Definition
Meaning
A two-piece tracksuit designed for jogging or casual athletic wear, typically consisting of a jacket or sweatshirt and loose-fitting trousers.
A comfortable, casual outfit, originally intended for sports activities but now widely worn for leisure, lounging, or travel.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term 'jogging suit' has largely been replaced by 'tracksuit' in modern usage but retains a slightly old-fashioned, 1970s/80s connotation. It specifically implies a matching set of garments.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'tracksuit' is the overwhelmingly more common term. 'Jogging suit' is understood but sounds slightly dated or American-influenced. In American English, both 'tracksuit' and 'jogging suit' are used, with the latter being more specific to the activity.
Connotations
UK: Primarily associated with sport or casual wear, sometimes with 'chav' or casual youth culture stereotypes if worn in non-sporting contexts. US: Connotes light exercise, leisurewear, or comfortable travel clothing.
Frequency
Low in contemporary British English; low-to-medium in American English, but 'tracksuit' or 'sweatsuit' are often preferred.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
She wore a {jogging suit}.He changed into his {jogging suit}.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(none directly associated)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Only in contexts related to sportswear retail or manufacturing.
Academic
Extremely rare. Might appear in sociological or cultural studies of leisure and fashion.
Everyday
Common in informal conversation to describe a specific type of comfortable, casual clothing.
Technical
Used in textile, fashion, and sportswear industries to denote a specific garment category.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He put on his jogging suit before going for a run.
- My jogging suit is blue and white.
- She prefers to travel in a comfortable jogging suit.
- I bought a new jogging suit for the gym.
- The actor was photographed in a designer jogging suit while walking his dog.
- The trend for wearing jogging suits as casual daywear has become popular again.
- The athleisure trend has blurred the lines between high fashion and the humble jogging suit.
- His sartorial choice of a silk-blend jogging suit for the airport lounge spoke volumes about modern comfort-centric luxury.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone JOGGING in a SUIT that's made for running, not for the office.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMFORT IS CASUAL CLOTHING (e.g., 'slip into something comfortable').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation resulting in 'костюм для бега трусцой', which is overly literal. The standard Russian equivalent is 'спортивный костюм' or 'тренировочный костюм'.
- Do not confuse with 'tracksuit bottoms' or 'sweatpants', which refer only to the trousers part.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'jogging suit' as a verb (e.g., 'I was jogging suiting').
- Spelling as 'joging suit' or 'joggin suit'.
- Confusing it with a 'jumpsuit' (a one-piece garment).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most common modern synonym for 'jogging suit' in British English?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Essentially, yes. 'Tracksuit' is the more common contemporary term, especially in British English, while 'jogging suit' is a slightly older or more American term specifying its use for jogging.
No, a jogging suit is strictly informal or sportswear. It is inappropriate for formal events, business meetings, or smart-casual dinners unless a specific, unconventional dress code allows it.
A 'jogging suit' is a specific garment (a tracksuit). 'Athleisure' is a broader fashion trend or category that includes sporty-style clothing like jogging suits, but designed to be worn in non-athletic contexts for both style and comfort.
It is still understood and used, particularly by older generations or in American English, but 'tracksuit', 'sweatsuit', or simply 'sweats' are more frequent in everyday modern speech.