Meaning & use
skinnies
Last updated
“skinnies” is a form of “skinny”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounpluralinformal
Very tight trousers that fit closely all the way down the leg, especially jeans.
Grammar: Used with a plural verb and plural determiners: these skinnies, a pair of skinnies.
Patterns
- a pair of skinnies
- wear skinnies
- skinnies are in fashion
She wore black skinnies and a loose white shirt to the party.
I can't find my favorite skinnies anywhere; I think I left them at the gym.
Those skinnies are so tight that they look painted on.
nounpluralinformaldisapproving
A very thin person, especially someone who is unhealthily thin.
Grammar: Usually used as a plural noun: the skinnies were teased. Rarely used in the singular skinny for one person.
Patterns
- call someone skinnies
- the skinnies
The other kids called the new boy skinnies, which was cruel.
In the 1990s, models were often dismissed as skinnies if they didn't look healthy.
Common combinations
- a pair of skinnies
- I bought a pair of skinnies in the sale.
- wear skinnies
- He wears skinnies even in summer.
- black skinnies
- Black skinnies go with almost everything.
- tight skinnies
- These tight skinnies are hard to sit down in.
- ripped skinnies
- Ripped skinnies were fashionable a few years ago.
- high-waisted skinnies
- She prefers high-waisted skinnies to low-rise ones.
Synonyms and how they differ
- skinny jeans
- The usual, more neutral term for this style of trousers; skinnies is more casual and often used by younger speakers.
- tight jeans
- A general description of jeans that fit closely; skinnies specifically means jeans that are tight from hip to ankle.
Opposites
Word family
- skinny adjective
- Very thin; also used before nouns like skinny jeans.
- skinniness noun
- The state of being very thin.
Commonly confused: skinnies or skinny?
skinnies vs skinny
As an adjective, skinny means very thin. Skinnies is a plural noun for tight trousers, so you say 'these skinnies' not 'this skinny'.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'skinnies' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Skinnies is a plural noun for tight trousers, so it takes a plural verb and a plural determiner like 'these'. Option An is wrong because 'a' cannot be used with a plural noun; option C uses it as an adjective, which is not standard; option D uses it as a verb, which does not exist.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “skinnies”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.