tighties

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

Form-fitting cycling shorts.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

I've worn these in town and on long trail rides, and I'm awed by how such simple pants work so well in the saddle. I wouldn't choose the Shins for a multiday stage race but somehow, even among the megaexpensive Euro tighties I own, these understated, made-in-San Francisco knickers have become a favo

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “tighties” mean?

Form-fitting cycling shorts.

Is “tighties” formal or informal?

tighties is generally slang.