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Meaning & use

XXL

abbreviation, adjective·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˌeks eks ˈel/
US/ˌeks eks ˈel/

Meanings

  1. abbreviation

    A clothing size meaning extra extra large, bigger than XL.

    Grammar: Used like a label: it comes after 'size' or after the noun, as in 'size XXL' or 'a T-shirt in XXL'.

    Patterns

    • size XXL
    • in XXL
    • an XXL shirt
    • XXL fits someone

    I usually take a large, but this brand runs small, so I bought an XXL.

    The store had the jacket in small, medium, and XXL, but nothing in between.

    She ordered a T-shirt in XXL because she likes a loose fit.

  2. adjectivebefore a noun

    Of a size that is larger than XL; used before a noun to describe clothing.

    Grammar: Comes before the noun it describes and has no comparative form: say 'an XXL hoodie', not 'a more XXL hoodie'.

    Patterns

    • an XXL jacket
    • an XXL pair of pants
    • XXL clothing

    He packed two XXL shirts for the trip because they are the most comfortable.

    The XXL hoodie sold out first, so only smaller sizes were left.

    My brother wears XXL shoes, which are hard to find in ordinary shops.

Common combinations

size XXL
The label says size XXL, so it should be loose on me.
in XXL
Do you have this sweater in XXL?
an XXL shirt
He changed into a clean XXL shirt before dinner.
XXL fits someone
This XXL fits me better than the large did.
run small in XXL
Their tops run small in XXL, so order one size up.
XXL clothing
The back of the shop is where they keep the XXL clothing.

Synonyms and how they differ

extra extra large
The full phrase; it sounds more formal and is used in writing or when speaking slowly, while XXL is the short form on labels.
2XL
A common written variant, especially on American websites; it means the same size and is read as 'two X L'.

Opposites

XSS

Word family

XL abbreviation
The size just below XXL, meaning extra large.
XXXL abbreviation
One size bigger than XXL, meaning extra extra extra large.
L abbreviation
The large size, smaller than XL.
XS abbreviation
Extra small, at the opposite end of the size range.

Commonly confused: XXL or XL? XXL or XXS?

XXL vs XL

XL means extra large and is one step smaller than XXL; shops often list XL, XXL, and XXXL in that order, so check the label carefully.

XXL vs XXS

XXS is extra extra small, the opposite end of the scale, and is easy to mix up with XXL when you read quickly.

Practice

A customer wants a shirt that is bigger than XL. Which size should they ask for?

Make it your own

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