pullover
B1Neutral/Informal
Definition
Meaning
A knitted garment for the upper body, designed to be put on by pulling it over the head.
A sweater or jersey; a piece of clothing worn for warmth or casual style.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun. Can imply a degree of casualness compared to more formal 'sweaters' or 'jumpers'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In BrE, 'pullover' is one common term alongside 'jumper'. In AmE, 'pullover' is standard but competes with 'sweater'.
Connotations
BrE: A standard, neutral term for a knit top. AmE: Sometimes implies a specific style (often without a zip or buttons), but is often used interchangeably with 'sweater'.
Frequency
'Pullover' is common in both varieties but less frequent than 'jumper' in BrE and 'sweater' in AmE in everyday speech.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
wear + a + [adj.] + pulloverput on/take off + a pulloverpullover + made of + [material]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To pull the wool over someone's eyes (idiom; unrelated but phonetically similar, potential trap)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in fashion retail (e.g., 'Our autumn collection features merino wool pullovers').
Academic
Very rare, only in material culture or design studies.
Everyday
Common in descriptions of clothing and casual wear.
Technical
Used in knitting, textile, and fashion design contexts.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She wore a red pullover.
- It's cold, put on your pullover.
- I bought a thick wool pullover for the winter.
- His pullover was too big and looked baggy.
- The cable-knit pullover she wore was beautifully crafted and very warm.
- He casually draped his pullover over the back of the chair.
- The designer's signature was the use of unconventional materials in otherwise classic pullovers.
- Despite the informal setting, his fine-gauge cashmere pullover signalled understated wealth.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PULL + OVER: You PULL it OVER your head.
Conceptual Metaphor
CLOTHING IS A SHELL/COVERING.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'свитер' (sweater) which is a direct equivalent; 'pullover' is correct. Avoid literal translation of 'натягивать сверху'.
- Not to be confused with 'водолазка' (turtleneck/polo neck) which is a specific type of pullover.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'pullover' as a verb (e.g., 'I pullovered' – incorrect).
- Confusing spelling: 'pull-over' (hyphenated) is an older variant, now usually one word.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is most specific to the meaning of 'pullover'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In American English, they are largely synonymous, though 'pullover' can specify a garment without a front opening. In British English, 'jumper' is the more common equivalent.
No. The verb form is 'to pull over', which has a completely different meaning (e.g., a police car asking a driver to stop at the side of the road).
A pullover is put on over the head and has no full-length front opening. A cardigan is open at the front and is usually fastened with buttons or a zip.
No, it is neutral to informal. In very formal clothing contexts, terms like 'knitwear', 'sweater', or 'jumper' might be preferred.
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