Underwear, Underpants, Panties, Etc… What’s the Difference?When it comes to clothing worn under our outer garments, there are several terms used in English, such as underwear, underpants, and panties. Each of these words has a specific meaning and usage, even though they all refer to items worn underneath regular clothing. In this article, we’ll explore the differences between these terms to clarify their specific meanings.
1. Underwear
Underwear is a general term that refers to all clothing worn under outer clothes. It’s a gender-neutral word and includes various types of garments worn by both men and women, such as underpants, bras, slips, undershirts, and more.
- Examples:
- I bought some new underwear today.
- It’s important to wear clean underwear every day.
- The store sells both men’s and women’s underwear.
Since underwear is a broad term, it can refer to many types of undergarments, making it the most inclusive of all the terms we’ll cover.
2. Underpants
Underpants specifically refer to the lower-body garment worn under clothes. This term is also gender-neutral, but it is mostly used when talking about men’s or boys’ underwear. Underpants can include boxers, briefs, and other similar garments.
- Examples:
- He put on a clean pair of underpants after his shower.
- I prefer to wear boxers instead of briefs as my underpants.
- The laundry has a mix of socks and underpants.
While underpants is sometimes used for both genders, it’s more common when referring to men’s undergarments.
3. Panties
Panties refers specifically to women’s and girls’ undergarments for the lower body. It typically describes a variety of styles, such as bikini briefs, thongs, or hipsters. Panties can be made of different materials, including cotton, lace, and satin.
- Examples:
- She bought new lace panties to match her bra.
- I need to find comfortable panties to wear with this dress.
- There are different styles of panties, from thongs to full briefs.
Unlike underpants, panties are used exclusively for women’s undergarments.
4. Briefs, Boxers, and Boxer Briefs
These terms refer to different styles of men’s underpants:
- Briefs: Close-fitting and supportive, covering the pelvis but leaving the upper thighs exposed.
- Example: He prefers to wear briefs during workouts.
- Boxers: Loose-fitting underpants that cover more of the thighs.
- Example: Many men find boxers more comfortable for sleeping.
- Boxer briefs: A combination of briefs and boxers, providing a snug fit like briefs but with more coverage on the thighs.
- Example: Boxer briefs offer the support of briefs with the coverage of boxers.
5. Other Types of Underwear
- Thongs: A type of underwear with minimal coverage, often worn to avoid visible panty lines.
- Example: She wore a thong to prevent any lines under her dress.
- Long Johns: A type of thermal underwear covering the entire leg, often worn in cold weather.
- Example: He put on long johns for extra warmth in the winter.
- Shapewear: Special underwear designed to smooth or shape the body.
- Example: She wore shapewear under her gown to create a more fitted look.
6. Underwear, Underpants, Panties… What’s the Difference?
- Underwear: The most general, gender-neutral term for garments worn under clothes, covering both men and women.
- Underpants: Gender-neutral, but typically used for men’s lower-body underwear.
- Panties: Specifically refers to women’s undergarments for the lower body.
- Briefs, Boxers, and Boxer Briefs: Common styles of men’s underwear, offering different levels of coverage and fit.
