Meaning & use
overalls
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Meanings
nounpluralAmerican
Loose-fitting trousers with a bib front and shoulder straps, worn over other clothes for work or as casual wear.
Grammar: Plural: the overalls are old; use a pair of overalls for one item.
Patterns
- a pair of overalls
The farmer wore denim overalls over a flannel shirt.
She bought a pair of overalls for her toddler to wear while painting.
His overalls were covered in dust after a day in the barn.
nounpluralBritish
A loose one-piece garment with sleeves and legs, worn over clothes to keep them clean at work.
Grammar: Plural in form: the mechanic put on his overalls.
Patterns
- put on overalls
- a pair of overalls
The mechanic zipped up his overalls before crawling under the car.
Visitors to the factory must wear overalls and safety glasses.
She changed out of her overalls after painting the fence.
Common combinations
- a pair of overalls
- He bought a pair of overalls for the garden.
- wear overalls
- Workers wear overalls to protect their clothes.
- denim overalls
- She loved her old denim overalls.
- put on overalls
- Put on your overalls before you start painting.
- work overalls
- The company supplies work overalls for all staff.
Synonyms and how they differ
- coveralls
- Coveralls is the American word for a one-piece protective suit, similar to the British sense of overalls.
- dungarees
- Dungarees is the British word for bib-front trousers, which Americans call overalls.
- boiler suit
- A boiler suit is the British name for a one-piece work suit and is more specific than overalls.
Word family
Commonly confused: overalls or overall?
overalls vs overall
Overall as an adjective or adverb means in general, as in the overall result. Overalls with a s is the clothing.
Practice
The painter put on his ___ to keep his clothes clean.
Choose one answer.
Overalls is the plural noun for the garment. Overall as a single noun is a rare British coat, and the other options are unrelated words.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “overalls”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.