English · Word Candidate

shorts

/ʃɔː(ɹ)ts/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A garment worn over the pelvic area ending above the knees, not covering the entire length of the leg, designed for warm weather or for sports.

Noun

Jessica hated covering her legs, so she usually wore shorts.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

Underpants.

NounRegister: dated

After a scare like that, you might need to change your shorts.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

What does “shorts” mean?

A garment worn over the pelvic area ending above the knees, not covering the entire length of the leg, designed for warm weather or for sports.

Is “shorts” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.