Meaning & use
underskirt
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
A skirt or slip worn underneath an outer skirt or dress, usually for warmth, shape, or modesty.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'an underskirt' or 'underskirts'.
Patterns
- wear an underskirt
- under an underskirt
She wore a thick underskirt to keep warm in the winter.
The dress was too sheer, so she added a white underskirt.
In the 19th century, women often wore several underskirts for volume.
Word forms
| plural | underskirts |
|---|
Common combinations
- wear an underskirt
- She always wears an underskirt under her uniform.
- white underskirt
- A white underskirt can show through thin fabric.
- thick underskirt
- He bought a thick underskirt for the cold weather.
- add an underskirt
- You might need to add an underskirt if the dress is transparent.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- skirt noun
- The outer garment that covers the lower body.
Commonly confused: underskirt or petticoat?
underskirt vs petticoat
A petticoat is an undergarment similar to an underskirt, but it can be decorative and visible; an underskirt is typically plain and hidden.
Practice
She wore a light summer dress, so she put on a thin ______ to stop it from being see-through.
Choose one answer.
An underskirt is worn under a dress to prevent transparency. An apron is worn over clothes for protection, and a blouse is a top, not a skirt.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “underskirt”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.