Meaning & use
clothing
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
The things people wear on their bodies, considered as a general group, such as shirts, trousers, coats and dresses.
Grammar: No plural and no 'a': warm clothing, not 'a warm clothing'; count with 'items of clothing'.
Patterns
- an item of clothing
- clothing for someone
- clothing made of something
We collected warm clothing for families who lost their homes in the flood.
She packed light clothing because the trip was to a tropical island.
The shop sells outdoor clothing and hiking equipment.
noununcountable
The business or products of making and selling garments, often used before another noun.
Grammar: Often works like an adjective before a noun: a clothing store, the clothing industry.
Patterns
- clothing store
- clothing brand
He works in the clothing industry, designing school uniforms.
Their clothing brand started as a small online shop.
Common combinations
- protective clothing
- Workers must wear protective clothing near the machines.
- an item of clothing
- Each guest was asked to donate one item of clothing.
- waterproof clothing
- Pack waterproof clothing if you plan to hike in spring.
- clothing store
- The new clothing store opens on Main Street tomorrow.
- children's clothing
- Children's clothing is often sold in separate sections by age.
Synonyms and how they differ
- clothes
- Everyday plural word for what you wear; 'clothing' sounds more general or commercial.
- garments
- More formal and refers to individual pieces, often in manufacturing or care labels.
- attire
- Formal and suggests clothing suited to an occasion, like formal attire.
- apparel
- Mostly used in retail and business, as in sports apparel.
Word family
Commonly confused: clothing or cloth? clothing or clothes?
clothing vs cloth
Cloth is fabric material, not what you wear: cut cloth to make clothing.
clothing vs clothes
Clothes is plural and takes a plural verb: my clothes are wet. Clothing is singular: this clothing is wet.
Practice
Which sentence is correct?
Choose one answer.
Clothing is uncountable, so it needs 'item of' to be counted. 'A clothing', 'clothings' and 'a clothes' all break the grammar rules.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “clothing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.