Meaning & use
unitard
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Meanings
nouncountable
A close-fitting one-piece stretchy garment that covers the body from the shoulders down to the legs, worn for dance, gymnastics and exercise.
Grammar: Countable: a unitard, two unitards.
Patterns
- wear a unitard
- a unitard for something
The gymnast competed in a sparkly blue unitard.
She wore a black unitard to the dance class.
A long-sleeved unitard is warm for winter training.
nouncountable
Such a garment worn as a costume or stage outfit, often in bright colors or patterns.
Grammar: Countable, used in fashion and performance contexts.
Patterns
- a unitard with something
The performer appeared in a silver unitard.
Her Halloween costume was a green unitard with a cape.
The mime wore a striped unitard and white gloves.
Word forms
| plural | unitards |
|---|
Common combinations
- wear a unitard
- Athletes often wear a unitard in cold conditions.
- sparkly unitard
- The skater twirled in a sparkly unitard.
- long-sleeved unitard
- I bought a long-sleeved unitard for rehearsals.
- stretch unitard
- A stretch unitard moves with your body.
- a unitard and tights
- She wore a unitard and tights to ballet class.
Synonyms and how they differ
- leotard
- A leotard covers only the torso and leaves the legs bare, so it is less complete than a unitard.
- bodysuit
- A bodysuit is a fashion item that usually covers the torso only and is often worn with pants or a skirt.
- catsuit
- A catsuit is a one-piece outfit with legs and sleeves, more associated with fashion or costume than exercise.
- jumpsuit
- A jumpsuit is a looser one-piece garment, often worn as everyday dress rather than sportswear.
Word family
Commonly confused: unitard or leotard?
unitard vs leotard
A leotard covers the body but not the legs, whereas a unitard covers the legs as well.
Practice
Which garment covers the torso and the legs in one piece?
Choose one answer.
A unitard covers both torso and legs. A leotard covers only the torso, so it is the tempting wrong answer.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “unitard”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.