jumper
B1Informal, Everyday (for clothing sense); Formal (for electrical/sports senses)
Definition
Meaning
A knitted garment for the upper body, typically without an opening at the front, pulled on over the head.
1) In sports: a person or animal that jumps. 2) A sleeveless dress worn over a blouse or top. 3) A short wire used to temporarily complete a circuit. 4) A loose outer jacket worn by sailors. 5) A person or machine that jumps or is made to jump.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The primary meaning differs fundamentally between British and American English. In British English, it's a common clothing item; in American English, it's either a sports participant or a type of dress.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK: A knitted pullover. US: Not used for a sweater; instead refers to a) a pinafore dress (worn over a blouse) or b) a person who jumps (e.g., in athletics).
Connotations
UK: Casual warmth, winter clothing, school uniform. US (dress): Slightly old-fashioned, schoolgirl attire. US (sports): Athleticism.
Frequency
The clothing sense is high-frequency in the UK, low-frequency in the US. The 'person who jumps' sense is medium-frequency in both, but primarily in sports contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[to] wear a jumper[to] be a good jumper[to] connect with a jumperVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Jumper cables”
- “To get one's jumper in a knot (rare, UK: to be upset/confused)”
- “Jumper lead (Aus/NZ for car cables)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in retail/fashion contexts (e.g., 'Our new autumn line features cashmere jumpers').
Academic
In sports science or physics (e.g., 'The biomechanics of elite jumpers').
Everyday
High (UK): Discussing clothing. Medium (US): Discussing sports or car trouble.
Technical
Electronics/Computing: 'Use a jumper to reset the BIOS.'
Examples
By CEFR Level
- It's cold. Wear your warm jumper.
- She is a good jumper.
- I bought a lovely blue woollen jumper in the sale.
- The athlete was the best jumper on the team.
- He absent-mindedly spilled tea on his new cashmere jumper.
- The base jumper leapt from the cliff, deploying her parachute at the last moment.
- The technician placed a jumper across the two pins to reset the motherboard's configuration.
- Her sartorial choice of a pinafore jumper over a collared blouse evoked a distinctly academic aesthetic.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a British **jumper** (sweater) keeping a **jumper** (athlete) warm before their big jump.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONNECTION IS A JUMP (technical: a jumper connects circuit points). PROTECTION/COMFORT IS A WRAPPING (clothing sense).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- DO NOT translate 'jumper' as 'джемпер' when speaking to Americans (they will think of a dress or athlete). Use 'sweater' or 'pullover' for clothing.
- 'Jumper cables' are 'провода для прикуривания', not 'кабели джемпера'.
- In athletics, 'high jumper' is 'прыгун в высоту'.
Common Mistakes
- US speaker in UK: 'Nice dress!' (when seeing a jumper).
- UK speaker in US: 'I'm cold, I need a jumper.' (causing confusion).
- Misspelling as 'jumber'.
Practice
Quiz
What would an American most likely associate with the word 'jumper'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In British English, yes, they are largely synonymous. In American English, a 'sweater' is the knitted top, while a 'jumper' is a sleeveless dress.
They are thick electric cables used to connect a dead car battery to a live one from another car to start the engine (also called 'booster cables').
No, 'jumper' is only a noun. The related verb is 'to jump'.
Because its primary meaning is completely different between the two major English dialects (UK vs US), a classic 'false friend' across dialects.
Explore