Meaning & use
scrubs
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Meanings
nounplural
Loose, lightweight clothing worn by medical staff, especially in operating rooms.
Grammar: Always plural: a pair of scrubs, not a scrub (when talking about the outfit).
Patterns
- wear scrubs
- a pair of scrubs
- in scrubs
The surgeon changed into green scrubs before the operation.
Nurses often wear scrubs because they are comfortable and easy to wash.
He bought a new pair of scrubs for his first shift in the emergency room.
nounpluralinformal
A close-fitting, often sleeveless top worn for sports or as casual wear.
Grammar: Plural in form but can refer to one item; a scrub is a different word (a bush or a rub).
Patterns
- a pair of scrubs
- wear scrubs to the gym
- cotton scrubs
She wore black scrubs to the gym and then went straight to work.
These scrubs are too tight for running; I'll change into something looser.
He packed his scrubs and trainers for the weekend tournament.
Common combinations
- wear scrubs
- All the staff on the ward wear scrubs.
- a pair of scrubs
- I need to buy a new pair of scrubs for the clinic.
- in scrubs
- She arrived in scrubs, straight from surgery.
- hospital scrubs
- Hospital scrubs are designed to be washed at high temperatures.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- scrub verb
- To rub something hard to clean it.
Commonly confused: scrubs or scrub?
scrubs vs scrub
As a noun, 'scrub' means a small bush or an act of rubbing; 'scrubs' (plural) usually means the medical clothing.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'scrubs' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The medical outfit is always plural, so 'her scrubs' is correct. 'A scrubs' is wrong because 'a' cannot go with a plural noun, and 'a scrub' (singular) refers to a bush or a rub, not the clothing.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “scrubs”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.