Meaning & use
leotards
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“leotards” is a form of “leotard”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplural
A tight piece of clothing that covers the body from the shoulders to the top of the legs, worn by dancers, gymnasts, and others.
Grammar: Usually plural in everyday use: she bought new leotards. The singular 'leotard' is also correct for one item.
Patterns
- wear leotards
- a pair of leotards
- leotards for dancing
The dancers put on their black leotards before the class.
She packed two leotards and a pair of ballet shoes for the competition.
These leotards stretch easily, so they are comfortable for gymnastics.
nounplural
A similar tight garment worn by acrobats, skaters, or athletes, sometimes with long sleeves or legs.
Grammar: Plural form; often used with words like 'cotton', 'long-sleeved', or 'competition' before it.
Patterns
- long-sleeved leotards
- competition leotards
The ice skater wore sparkling leotards for her routine.
Acrobats often choose bright leotards so the audience can see them clearly.
Word forms
| singular | leotard |
|---|
Common combinations
- wear leotards
- All the gymnasts wear leotards during practice.
- a pair of leotards
- He folded a pair of leotards into his bag.
- black leotards
- The choir stood in a row in black leotards.
- dance leotards
- The shop sells dance leotards in many colors.
- cotton leotards
- Cotton leotards are cooler than synthetic ones.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- leotard noun
- The singular form, meaning one such garment.
Commonly confused: leotards or lectard? leotards or leotards vs. tights?
leotards vs lectard
'Lectard' is a misspelling; the correct spelling is 'leotard'.
leotards vs leotards vs. tights
Learners sometimes confuse leotards with tights; leotards cover the body, while tights cover the legs.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'leotards' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Leotards' is plural and does not take 'a'; it refers to the garment itself, not shoes or a single item with 'a'. Option 1 is correct because it uses the plural form naturally with 'wore'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “leotards”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.