Definition

1. Noun (plural):
   • Garments worn to cover the body: Items such as shirts, pants, dresses, and jackets that are worn on the body.
   • Attire or apparel in general: The collective term for the things a person wears.

Usage

• The word "clothes" is always used in the plural form. You cannot say "a clothes" for a single item. For a single item, use "a piece of clothing," "a garment," or the specific item name (e.g., a shirt).
• It is used with plural verbs (e.g., The clothes clean).
• It refers to the general category of what one wears, not to uniforms, costumes, or specialized attire unless specified.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "Sunday best / best clothes": One's finest clothes, typically worn for special occasions.
  • They wore their Sunday best to the wedding.
• "Plain clothes": Ordinary civilian clothes, as opposed to a uniform.
  • The detective worked in plain clothes.
• "The emperor's new clothes": Used to describe a situation where people pretend to admire something they cannot see or that does not exist, for fear of appearing stupid. (From the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale).

Variants and Related Words

• Clothing (n, uncountable): A more formal or general synonym for "clothes."
  • The charity provides food and clothing.
• Garment (n): A formal word for an item of clothing.
  • This garment should be dry-cleaned.
• Apparel (n, uncountable): A somewhat formal or commercial term for clothing.
  • The store sells sports apparel.
• Attire (n, uncountable): A formal word for clothes, especially of a particular type.
  • The invitation requested formal attire.

Synonyms

• Garments
• Apparel
• Attire
• Wear (e.g., casual wear, evening wear)
• Garb (often for distinctive clothing)

Phrasal Verbs / Common Collocations

• "Try on clothes": To put on clothes to see if they fit or look good.
  • She spent an hour trying on clothes at the mall.
• "Take off clothes": To remove one's clothes.
  • He took off his clothes and jumped into the pool.
• "Put on clothes": To get dressed.
  • It's cold outside, so put on some warm clothes.
• "Fold clothes": To arrange clothes neatly by bending them.
  • He helped fold the clothes after they were dry.

Idioms

• "Wolf in sheep's clothing": A person who appears harmless or friendly but is actually dangerous or hostile.
  • Be careful of him; he's a wolf in sheep's clothing.
• "Clothes make the man": The idea that a person's appearance, especially their clothing, shapes how others perceive them.
  • He believes clothes make the man, so he always dresses impeccably for meetings.

Noun

1. clothing in general
   • she was refined in her choice of apparel
   • he always bought his clothes at the same store
   • fastidious about his dress