track suit: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Informal, Everyday
Quick answer
What does “track suit” mean?
A two-piece garment consisting of a jacket and trousers, typically made of soft, stretchy fabric, designed for athletic activities or casual wear.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A two-piece garment consisting of a jacket and trousers, typically made of soft, stretchy fabric, designed for athletic activities or casual wear.
A casual outfit often worn for comfort, leisure, or as sportswear; sometimes associated with a relaxed, informal style that can carry negative stereotypes in certain formal contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'tracksuit' is the standard term. In American English, 'sweat suit' or 'sweatsuit' is more common, though 'track suit' is understood.
Connotations
UK: Strongly associated with sports, football culture, and casual 'sportswear' style. US: Often associated with gym wear, lounging, and less specifically with track athletics.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English. In US English, 'sweats' or 'sweatpants and hoodie' might be more frequent for describing similar casual attire.
Grammar
How to Use “track suit” in a Sentence
[Subject] + put on/wore + [a tracksuit][Subject] + was dressed in + [a tracksuit][A tracksuit] + is + [adjective]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “track suit” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He decided to tracksuit it for the long flight.
- After work, I just want to tracksuit and watch TV.
American English
- She's just going to sweat-suit it all day Saturday.
- Let's just tracksuit and order pizza.
adverb
British English
- He lounged tracksuit-comfortably on the sofa.
- She dressed tracksuit-casual for the informal gathering.
American English
- He spent the day sweat-suit lazy around the house.
- They lived tracksuit-casually during the lockdown.
adjective
British English
- He has a very tracksuit-and-trainers style.
- The tracksuit culture is prominent in some football fan groups.
American English
- It was a totally sweatpants-and-hoodie, tracksuit kind of day.
- The look was more tracksuit chic than athletic.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; considered inappropriate attire for most business environments.
Academic
Might appear in texts about sports science, fashion, or sociology discussing casual culture.
Everyday
Very common when discussing casual clothing, sports, or comfortable attire for home.
Technical
Used in textile, fashion design, and sportswear manufacturing contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “track suit”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “track suit”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “track suit”
- Misspelling as 'tracksoot' or 'tracsuit'.
- Using it to refer to a single item like just the trousers (should be 'tracksuit bottoms' or 'sweatpants').
- Capitalising it as a proper noun.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both 'tracksuit' (one word) and 'track suit' (two words) are acceptable, though the one-word form is more common in modern dictionaries.
They are largely synonymous. 'Tracksuit' is more common in British English and often implies a slightly more tailored, sport-specific garment. 'Sweatsuit' is the dominant term in American English and emphasises the soft, sweat-absorbent fabric.
Generally, no. A tracksuit is considered activewear or loungewear and is too casual for most smart-casual dress codes, which typically require chinos, smart jeans, or trousers with a collared shirt or polo.
The two main parts are the jacket (or top) and the trousers (often called 'tracksuit bottoms' in the UK or 'sweatpants' in the US). They are usually made from matching material.
A two-piece garment consisting of a jacket and trousers, typically made of soft, stretchy fabric, designed for athletic activities or casual wear.
Track suit is usually informal, everyday in register.
Track suit: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtræk.suːt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtræk.suːt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Dressed in a full tracksuit (emphasising very casual attire)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a TRACK where athletes run, and the SUIT they wear for it. A track + suit = a tracksuit.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMFORT IS A TRACKSUIT (e.g., 'I just want to tracksuit and relax all weekend.')
Practice
Quiz
In which context would wearing a tracksuit most likely be considered inappropriate?