Underpants are a piece of underwear which have two holes to put your legs through and elastic around the top to hold them up round your waist or hips. In British English, underpants refers to only men's underwear, but in American English it refers to both men's and women's.
underpants in British English
(ˈʌndəˌpænts)
plural noun
a man's undergarment covering the body from the waist or hips to the top of the thighs or knees
Often shortened to: pants
underpants in American English
(ˈʌndərˌpænts)
US
plural noun
an undergarment, long or short, for the lower part of the body, with a separate opening for each leg
Examples of 'underpants' in a sentence
underpants
By forcing them to wear their underpants on the outside of their trousers until they cough up.
The Sun (2016)
And, of course, most superheroes wear their underpants on top of their trousers.
The Sun (2017)
They do not want their socks and underpants ironed.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Medics found him lying lifeless on his back wearing just his underpants.
The Sun (2011)
Lots of guys did not wear underpants in an effort to keep cooler.
Richard Holmes Dusty Warriors: Modern Soldiers at War (2006)
That is no life for a man bold enough to wear his underpants on the outside of his tights.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
But the most surprising Journey turned out to be the man with the underpants in his boot.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Tell Daddy he can stop wearing those tight underpants now.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The hero definitely won't be wearing underpants or eating tomatoes.
The Sun (2011)
Not least because it's hot enough not to wear any underpants.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It is claimed he was not wearing underpants - and the shocked juror saw the evidence.
The Sun (2008)
My two sons came home from school on Friday wearing their underpants over the tops of their trousers.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
And in return you turn over the grand ambitions of the powerful to a man in his underpants answering a knock at the door.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
I was only wearing my underpants and my left shoe.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The colouring of his fur makes him look like he's wearing grey tights with white underpants over the top.
The Sun (2012)
I spotted a man in his underpants on the fifth floor, scratching himself and yawning.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
A British architect has reclaimed the world record for wearing the most underpants at one time.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Frenchman sells smelly pants A French company is to produce scented underpants for men.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It didn't help that the first show I went to featured a man rolling around on the floor in his underpants.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
For many months now I have resisted writing about men 's underpants on the grounds that no good would come of it.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Word lists with
underpants
underwear
In other languages
underpants
British English: underpants /ˈʌndəˌpænts/ NOUN
Underpants are a piece of underwear with two holes for your legs and elastic around the waist. Underpants refers only to men's underwear.