Meaning & use
salopettes
Last updated
Meaning
nounpluralBritish
Warm, waterproof trousers with a high waist and shoulder straps, worn for skiing and other snow sports.
Grammar: Plural only, like trousers: a pair of salopettes.
Patterns
- a pair of salopettes
- wear salopettes
She pulled on her salopettes and jacket before heading to the ski lift.
He bought a pair of salopettes that were waterproof and light.
The children's salopettes had extra padding around the knees.
Common combinations
- a pair of salopettes
- I need a new pair of salopettes for the trip.
- ski salopettes
- Ski salopettes should be waterproof and breathable.
- waterproof salopettes
- Waterproof salopettes kept him dry in the snow.
- insulated salopettes
- Insulated salopettes are warmer than regular snow pants.
- wear salopettes
- Most beginners wear salopettes to stay dry when they fall.
Synonyms and how they differ
- ski pants
- Ski pants is the more general and common American term and may not have shoulder straps.
- snow bibs
- Snow bibs specifically describes salopette-style trousers, mainly in American English.
- dungarees
- Dungarees are bib trousers made from denim for ordinary wear, not for snow.
Word family
Commonly confused: salopettes or culottes?
salopettes vs culottes
Culottes are wide-legged short trousers that look like a skirt. Salopettes are warm snow trousers with straps.
Practice
It was snowing hard, so she put on her waterproof ___ before going out to ski.
Choose one answer.
Salopettes are warm, waterproof trousers for snow sports. Leggings, pajamas and shorts do not give enough protection.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “salopettes”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.