sleepwear: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to formal; standard commercial/catalog term.
Quick answer
What does “sleepwear” mean?
Clothing worn for sleeping in.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Clothing worn for sleeping in.
A collective term for various types of garments specifically designed to be worn in bed, such as pyjamas, nightdresses, or nightshirts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use the term identically. 'Pyjamas' (UK) / 'Pajamas' (US) is a more common, specific term in everyday speech.
Connotations
Slightly more commercial/retail-oriented in both varieties. Neutral connotation.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English, but common in both. In the UK, 'nightwear' is also a common synonym.
Grammar
How to Use “sleepwear” in a Sentence
N/A - Noun, typically used as a non-count/uncountable noun. e.g., 'She bought some sleepwear.'Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sleepwear” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in retail, marketing, e-commerce (e.g., 'Our sleepwear division saw strong Q4 sales').
Academic
Rare; might appear in sociological or historical studies of domestic life/material culture.
Everyday
Common when shopping or discussing bedtime routines (e.g., 'I need to buy new sleepwear').
Technical
Used in textile/flame-retardancy standards, product safety regulations.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sleepwear”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sleepwear”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sleepwear”
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'a sleepwear' is incorrect). Treating it as synonymous with 'lingerie' (which is not necessarily for sleep).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Pyjamas' (or 'pajamas') is a specific type of sleepwear, typically a two-piece set. 'Sleepwear' is the broader category that includes pyjamas, nightdresses, nightshirts, etc.
No, 'sleepwear' is generally an uncountable noun. You say 'some sleepwear' or 'a piece/item of sleepwear', not 'a sleepwear'.
It's neutral but leans towards commercial/descriptive register. In casual conversation, people often say 'pyjamas', 'nightie', etc. 'Sleepwear' is common in shops and advertisements.
Sleepwear is specifically for sleeping and is often designed for comfort and warmth. Lingerie is undergarments, often designed to be aesthetically pleasing or seductive, and is not necessarily intended for sleeping in.
Clothing worn for sleeping in.
Sleepwear: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsliːpweə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsliːpwer/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: WEAR for SLEEP = SLEEPWEAR.
Conceptual Metaphor
CLOTHING IS FOR ACTIVITY (cf. sportswear, swimwear).
Practice
Quiz
'Sleepwear' is best classified as which type of noun?