swimwear
C1Neutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
Clothing designed specifically for swimming or aquatic activities.
A collective term for garments worn in water or for beach/sunbathing contexts, encompassing functional and fashionable items.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a mass/uncountable noun. Refers to the category rather than individual items (e.g., 'a piece of swimwear'). Can imply both the activity-specific function and the associated fashion/style.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. 'Swimwear' is standard in both. 'Swimsuit' is more common for a one-piece garment in AmE, while 'swimming costume' is a dated but understood BrE term.
Connotations
In retail/fashion contexts, 'swimwear' is the standard professional term in both varieties. Slightly more formal/polished than 'bathing suit' or 'swimsuit'.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in written, commercial, and formal contexts than in casual speech, where more specific terms (swimsuit, trunks) are often used.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
NOUN + swimwear (e.g., designer swimwear)swimwear + NOUN (e.g., swimwear collection)VERB + swimwear (e.g., purchase swimwear)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Nothing between them but their swimwear (a euphemism for nudity).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in retail, fashion design, marketing, and e-commerce (e.g., 'The swimwear segment saw 15% growth this quarter.').
Academic
Rare; may appear in cultural studies, fashion history, or sports science texts discussing apparel.
Everyday
Common in planning for holidays, shopping, or packing (e.g., 'Don't forget to pack your swimwear.').
Technical
Used in textile engineering regarding chlorine resistance, UV protection, and hydrodynamic design.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The swimwear industry is highly seasonal.
- She works in swimwear design.
American English
- The swimwear section is on the third floor.
- They launched a new swimwear line.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I need new swimwear for my holiday.
- The swimwear is in that bag.
- This shop has a good selection of affordable swimwear.
- Remember to pack your swimwear if the hotel has a pool.
- Sustainable swimwear made from recycled materials is gaining popularity.
- The new collection features swimwear with innovative UV-protective fabrics.
- The brand has repositioned itself in the luxury swimwear market.
- Anthropological studies often examine swimwear as a marker of cultural norms and body politics.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SWIM + WEAR = What you WEAR to SWIM.
Conceptual Metaphor
CLOTHING IS A TOOL (for an activity).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'плавательная одежда' which is unnatural. Use 'купальник' (for women's one-piece) or 'плавки' (for men's briefs), but for the general category, 'пляжная одежда' or 'одежда для плавания' is acceptable.
Common Mistakes
- Using as a countable noun (e.g., 'I bought three swimwears' – incorrect; 'I bought three swimsuits' or 'three items of swimwear' – correct).
- Confusing with 'swimwear' as an adjective (e.g., 'swimwear shop' is correct, not 'swimming wear shop').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'swimwear' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is an uncountable (mass) noun, so it is treated as singular (e.g., 'This swimwear is stylish'). You cannot say 'swimwears'.
'Swimwear' is the general category. A 'swimsuit' is a specific garment (usually a one-piece for women or a tight-fitting two-piece). 'Swimwear' includes swimsuits, bikinis, trunks, board shorts, etc.
Yes. 'Swimwear' is a gender-neutral category term. Men's swim trunks, briefs, or jammers are all types of swimwear.
It is neutral but leans towards commercial/formal contexts. In very casual speech, people often use more specific terms like 'bathing suit' or 'trunks'.