shirt

noun

ˈshərt How to pronounce shirt (audio)
1
: a garment for the upper part of the body: such as
a
: a cloth garment usually having a collar, sleeves, a front opening, and a tail long enough to be tucked inside trousers or a skirt
b
: undershirt
2
: all or a large part of one's money or resources
lost his shirt on that business deal
shirtless
ˈshərt-ləs How to pronounce shirt (audio)
adjective
shirtlessness noun
shirtlike
ˈshərt-ˌlīk How to pronounce shirt (audio)
adjective

Examples of shirt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That is true about every single person around it, including Carmella’s children, the hot dog man, and the guy in the ice cream truck who only wears Phish T-shirts and bathes on Wednesdays. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026 And thanks to its boxy fit, the shirt adds balance to outfits with flare jeans or leggings. — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026 Her father is dressed in a yellow collared shirt and dark pants. — Sumiko Corley, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026 Think transitional pieces, like long-sleeve shirts and wide-leg pants that work from warm afternoons to cool nights. — Amber Cardullo, Travel + Leisure, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shirt

Word History

Etymology

Middle English shirte, from Old English scyrte; akin to Old Norse skyrta shirt, Old English scort short

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shirt was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing shirt

Rhymes for shirt

See All Rhymes for shirt

Browse Nearby Words

shirring
shirt
shirtband
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shirt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shirt. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

shirt

noun
ˈshərt How to pronounce shirt (audio)
1
: a garment for the upper part of the body usually with a collar, sleeves, a front opening, and a tail long enough to be tucked inside pants or a skirt
2
: undershirt

More from Merriam-Webster on shirt

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shirt

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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