singlet: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Neutral to technical; most common in sports/athletics (BrE), and specific technical contexts (AmE).
Quick answer
What does “singlet” mean?
A sleeveless athletic or undershirt, typically with a low neck and shoulder straps.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sleeveless athletic or undershirt, typically with a low neck and shoulder straps.
In physics/chemistry: a state in which particles have zero spin, or a spectral line not split into multiple components. In wrestling: a one-piece close-fitting uniform.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'singlet' commonly refers to a sleeveless athletic or undershirt. In American English, this clothing item is almost always called a 'tank top' or (undershirt) 'wifebeater'. The term 'singlet' is primarily used in American English in scientific contexts (physics, chemistry) or for specific sports uniforms (e.g., wrestling singlet).
Connotations
BrE: neutral, practical, sportswear/underwear. AmE (clothing sense): rare, possibly perceived as a Britishism; the scientific sense is neutral and technical.
Frequency
Very high frequency in BrE for the clothing sense. Very low frequency in AmE for clothing; moderate in AmE for scientific/wrestling contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “singlet” in a Sentence
NP wear a singletNP be dressed in a singletthe singlet of NP (technical)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “singlet” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The singlet state of the molecule is unstable.
- He changed into his singlet top.
American English
- The experiment focused on singlet oxygen production.
- The wrestler's singlet uniform was red.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in sportswear retail.
Academic
Common in physics and chemistry papers (e.g., 'singlet state', 'singlet oxygen').
Everyday
Common in BrE/AusE/NZE for clothing; rare in AmE everyday speech.
Technical
Standard in quantum physics, spectroscopy, and wrestling.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “singlet”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “singlet”
- Using 'singlet' in AmE to mean a tank top (will cause confusion).
- Assuming the physics term is understood in a general conversation about clothing.
- Misspelling as 'singlett'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Americans typically call it a 'tank top' (for outerwear) or a specific type of sleeveless undershirt (sometimes colloquially called a 'wifebeater').
Yes, but specifically. The term 'wrestling singlet' is standard internationally for the one-piece uniform. The general athletic top sense is common in Commonwealth countries like Australia and New Zealand.
It is a quantum state with a total spin quantum number of zero, meaning the spins of particles are paired oppositely, resulting in no net magnetic moment.
No, 'singlet' is only used as a noun or, in technical contexts, as a modifier (adjective). There is no standard verb form.
A sleeveless athletic or undershirt, typically with a low neck and shoulder straps.
Singlet is usually neutral to technical; most common in sports/athletics (bre), and specific technical contexts (ame). in register.
Singlet: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɪŋɡlɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɪŋɡlɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SINGLE layer of fabric, or a SINGLE person in a lightweight top, for the clothing. For the science term, think of a SINGLE, non-split spectral line.
Conceptual Metaphor
MINIMALISM/ESSENTIALS (clothing: the minimal shirt), UNITY/WHOLENESS (physics: a unified, non-split state).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would an American scientist most likely use the word 'singlet'?