Garment: The Formal Word for a Piece of Clothing
A garment is a single item of clothing. The word is rare in speech and everywhere in the clothing trade.
A garment is one item of clothing: a shirt, a coat, a dress. Almost nobody says it at home — you would say *top* or *jumper* — but it is the standard word in the trade, on care labels and in customs paperwork, because it covers everything without choosing a category.
- An item of clothing. *Wash the garment inside out.*
- Garment industry — the making of clothes. *The garment industry employs thousands.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | garment | A woollen garment. |
| Plural | garments | Winter garments. |
| Compound | garment bag | A suit in a garment bag. |
| Related | clothing | Protective clothing. |
| Related | apparel | Sports apparel. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Do not tumble dry this garment.The language of care labels.
- The garment district covers several blocks.A New York term.
- Each garment is cut by hand.Manufacturing use.
Words for clothes, from plain to formal
- Clothes — the everyday plural
- Clothing — the uncountable general word
- Garment — one item, formal or technical
- Apparel — retail and American English
- Attire — formal dress for an occasion
From Old French *garnement*, equipment or clothing, from *garnir*, to equip or furnish — the same root as *garnish*, which now equips a plate rather than a person.
Is garment a plural?
No. One garment, two garments. Clothing is the uncountable word.
Garment or clothing?
Garment is countable and specific; clothing is general. A shop sells clothing made of individual garments.