Definition

Noun: A long, loose-fitting tunic or shirt, typically reaching the knees or lower, traditionally worn by people in South Asia. It is commonly paired with trousers such as salwar or churidars.

Usage

The word "kameez" refers specifically to the tunic itself. It is a standard item of traditional attire, often part of a coordinated outfit. - She wore a beautifully embroidered kameez for the wedding ceremony. - The kameez is usually worn over matching trousers.

Advanced Usage

• Cultural Context: The kameez is a central garment in various traditional outfits across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and neighboring regions. For women, it is a key component of the or . For men, it is part of traditional attire like the .
• Descriptive Use: The word can be modified to describe the style, length, or fabric of the tunic (e.g., a knee-length kameez, a silk kameez, an A-line kameez).

Variants and Related Words

• Kurta: A similar tunic for men or women, often more casual and sometimes shorter than a formal kameez.
• Salwar Kameez / Shalwar Kameez: The name for the complete outfit consisting of the tunic () and the loose trousers ( or ).
• Churidar Kameez: An outfit pairing the tunic with tightly fitting trousers ().

Synonyms

• Tunic
• Top (in the context of the outfit)

Notes

"Kameez" is a loanword from Urdu (قَمِیض), which in turn comes from Arabic. It is sometimes spelled "kamiz" in English. It is almost always used in the context of South Asian clothing.

Noun

1. a long tunic worn by many people from the Indian subcontinent (usually with a salwar or churidars)