noun

clothing

Items worn to cover the body.

She packs warm clothing for her trip to the mountains.

Etymology

Old English clāþ named cloth. Clothing gathers the things made or used to clothe the body into a collective name, extending beyond any single garment or piece of fabric.

More examples

  • Workers wear protective clothing when handling chemicals.
  • He hangs his wet clothing near the heater.
  • The store sells clothing for children and adults.

Forms

clothe verb — To dress someone or provide garments.

Similar words

clothes
An everyday alternative that takes a plural verb.
apparel
A more formal term, often used in retail.