👕 Modern Undergarments (Intimates)
These are the most common items worn beneath outerwear for support, comfort, and hygiene.
Category Type Key Features
Briefs
Classic Briefs (Y-Front) V-shaped leg opening, offers maximum support, minimal coverage on the thigh.
Mid-Rise/Low-Rise Briefs Varying waistband heights, generally for support without extra fabric.
Boxers
Woven/Loose Boxers Loose fit, made from woven cotton or silk, offering maximum breathability and comfort.
Boxer Briefs A hybrid style: form-fitting like a brief but with legs extending partway down the thigh like a boxer. Offers support and prevents chafing.
Trunks Shorter leg cut than boxer briefs, stopping high on the thigh. Popular for a modern, squared look.
Performance
Compression Shorts Made from synthetic, moisture-wicking materials; worn for athletic support and muscle recovery.
Tops
Undershirt (Tee/Vest) Crewneck, V-neck, or sleeveless (A-shirt/tank top). Worn to absorb sweat, prevent showing through clothes, & provide warmth.
👖 Lower Body Coverings (Legs/Outerwear)
These garments cover the legs and are often considered outer layers, but serve a critical function as primary coverings.
Pants/Trousers: The standard outer covering for the lower body.
Jeans: Durable trousers made from denim.
Shorts: Outer garment covering the upper leg.
Kilts: A knee-length garment wrapped around the body, traditionally worn by men in the Scottish Highlands.1
Sarong/Kanga/Lungi: Large pieces of cloth wrapped around the waist, common in many South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Pacific cultures for daily wear.2
🧥 Upper Body Coverings (Tops/Overgarments)
These cover the torso and arms and are the most varied in style and formality.
Shirts: Button-down shirts, t-shirts, polo shirts—the core everyday covering.
Sweaters/Jumpers: Knitted garments worn for warmth.3
Jackets/Coats: Outerwear providing protection from the elements or for fashion (e.g., denim jacket, trench coat, blazer).4
Robes/Gowns: Loose outer garments, often worn for ceremonies, religious purposes (e.g., academic gown, judicial robe), or as casual loungewear (bathrobe).5
📜 Historical and Cultural Coverings
Historically, the line between undergarments and primary clothing was often blurred.
Loincloth/Perizoma: An ancient and fundamental piece of clothing, essentially a strip of cloth wrapped around the hips and between the legs, used as the only garment in many cultures.6
Drawers/Long Johns: Early forms of underpants that extended to the ankles, popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries for warmth.
Togas/Chitons (Ancient Rome/Greece): Large sheets of wool or linen draped around the body, serving as the primary outer covering for citizens.
Dhoti/Kurta (South Asia): Traditional ceremonial and casual wear involving draped fabric (Dhoti) paired with a loose shirt (Kurta).
Anatomical Isolation Pouch: Whether you wear boxers, briefs, boxer briefs, or something different, your underwear will typically have a built-in pouch. The technical name for this pouch is the “anatomical isolation pouch.”
Boxers: By this point, you probably know what boxers are, but did you know WHY they’re called that? The boxer style of underwear was literally created for boxers, by the boxing company, Everlast.
Boxers have been around since 1925, then briefs were invented in 1935 to offer more support. Boxer briefs came around a few years later, blending the two styles into a supportive, high-coverage silhouette.
Britches: A lot of people think “britches” or “breeches” refer to underwear, but these words are actually different terms for trousers (AKA pants.)
Cotton: A fluffy, white fiber that’s comfortable to wear. Often combined with synthetic fabrics to form stretch cotton.
Elastane: One of the synthetics we frequently add to cotton to make it stretchier.
Jock straps: By this time, you might know that a jock strap is a supportive style of underwear that offers minimal coverage, with only straps holding it on in the back and sides. However, what you might not know is why they’re called jock straps. It’s because of bicycles: specifically, old-timey ones that had one big front wheel and one small back wheel. These early bikes were called “penny farthings,” and the folks who rode them were called “bicycle jockeys”…and apparently, they wore jock straps, which is where the “jock” comes from.
Loincloths: The loincloth was the first form men’s underwear took. Depending on the culture it came from, a loincloth can look different and function differently. The word “loincloth” encompasses anything from a single piece of fabric worn at the waist, to a slightly more elaborate style that’s strategically twisted to provide support.
Microfiber:. Microfiber is renowned for being ultra soft because it’s made of tiny fibers, hence the name. People even use microfiber towels to wipe down their cars because it’s gentle and won’t scratch the paint. That same softness makes microfiber underwear a must-have for men.
Nylon: A synthetic material that was invented as an alternative to silk. It’s soft and stretchy.
Pima cotton: A specific kind of cotton that has longer fibers and is even softer than regular cotton.
Supima cotton: Even more specific than Pima cotton, Supima means it’s an extra-long staple cotton. This is the gold standard of cotton, and you can find it in several of our products, including this shaper tank for men!
As you can see, the difference between cotton, Pima cotton, and Supima cotton is subtle, but there are some important distinctions that must be made when discussing these materials.
Union suits: The union suit is a one-piece garment that serves as underwear for both the top and the bottom simultaneously. It’s a similar style to long johns, except in addition to long legs, a union suit also has long arms. Back in the 1700s, when the union suit was invented, it was considered to be the ultimate way to keep warm, covered, and modest.
When it comes to slang, there are few things as universally useful as words for your underthings. Whether you call them unmentionables, unvests, or something else entirely, your underwear is a part of you that not everyone gets to see on a regular basis – and that means there’s plenty of scope for creative slang.
Briefs – These are the classic cotton-style unmentionables that most people will be familiar with.
Boxers – Loose underwear that covers the whole of the man’s lower half. Boxers are a favorite of many men and can come in a variety of styles and materials.
Carters – Named after Henry Carter, who invented the style of waistband, Carter’s are loose-fitting cotton briefs designed for babies and children.
Cox – This word originates from the idea that men’s underwear is like a ‘box’ for their ‘cox’ – their penis.
Drops – The name for men’s briefs that ride very low on the hips.
G-string – The type of very small underwear that dancers and gymnasts sometimes wear.
Garter – Another word for garter belt, a piece of underwear designed to hold up stockings. You only see these in vintage photos these days.
Jockey – A type of loose underwear that was once most often worn by horse riders.
Undies – The Australian, New Zealand and British word for underwear.
Bralet – A type of women’s underwear with a wide, triangular-shaped top. Brassiere – A woman’s bra.
Brat – Loose cotton underwear that was once popular with young women.
Bridesmaid – Loose cotton underwear that was once popular with young women.
Brilliant – Loose cotton underwear that was once popular with young women.
Cantilever – A type of women’s underwear where the fabric is stretched to cover the breasts, but leaves the nipples exposed.
Corset – A type of women’s underwear with a very structured, laced design.
Dainties – Women’s underwear that was once very light and delicate.
Drawers – The American word for women’s underwear.
Garter – Another word for garter belt, a piece of underwear designed to hold up stockings. You only see these in vintage photos these days.
Garters – A type of women’s underwear with a wide band around the top.
Girdle – A type of women’s underwear that covers everything from the waist down. Mangas – Loose cotton underwear that was once popular with young women.
Panties – The American word for women’s underwear.
Peignoir – Loose cotton underwear that was once popular with young women. Petticoat – Loose cotton underwear that was once popular with young women.
Pinny – Loose cotton underwear that was once popular with young women.
Panty – The American, Canadian and Australian word for women’s underwear.
Panty girdle – A type of women’s underwear that covers everything from the waist down.
Pinky – Loose cotton underwear that was once popular with young women.
Pyjamas – Loose cotton underwear that was once popular with young women.
Robes – Loose cotton underwear that was once popular with young women.
Slip – A women’s underwear that covers the top half of the body, but not the legs.
Slip girdle – A type of women’s underwear that covers everything from the waist down.
Slips – The American word for women’s underwear.
Undies – The Australian, New Zealand and British word for underwear.
Vest – Women’s underwear that looks like a sleeveless shirt.
Wrap-around – A type of women’s underwear where the fabric is wrapped around the breasts and tied in the back.
Wraps – The American word for women’s underwear.
Other slang for underpants
Baggy – This refers to men’s underwear that is very loose and droopy.
Bagworms – This refers to women’s underwear that is very loose and droopy.
Bib – This refers to a man’s underwear that has a large front panel.
Bibster – This refers to a woman’s underwear that has a large front panel.
Binding iron – This refers to a man’s underwear that is very tight and restrictive.
Binding iron maiden – This refers to a woman’s underwear that is very tight and restrictive.
Corset – This refers to men’s underwear that is very snug.
Corset iron – This refers to women’s underwear that is very snug.
Corset stays – This refers to men’s underwear that is very snug.
Corset stays maiden – This refers to women’s underwear that is very snug.
Corseted – This refers to men’s underwear that is very snug.
Corseted maiden – This refers to women’s underwear that is very snug.
Crutch – This refers to men’s underwear that is very long and extends down between the legs.
Crutched – This refers to men’s underwear that is very long and extends down between the legs.
Crutched maiden – This refers to women’s underwear that is very long and extends down between the legs.
Crutched together – This refers to men’s underwear that is very long and extends down between the legs.
Crutched together maiden – This refers to women’s underwear that is very long and extends down between the legs.
Riding coat – This refers to men’s underwear that is very long and extends down between the legs.
Tights – This refers to men’s underwear that is very tight.
Tights iron – This refers to women’s underwear that is very tight.
Tights iron maiden – This refers to men’s underwear that is very tight.
Tights iron maiden doll – This refers to women’s underwear that is very tight.
Tights iron maiden man – This refers to men’s underwear that is very tight.
Tights iron maiden maid – This refers to women’s underwear that is very tight.
Wing – This refers to men’s underwear that extends out like a wide band.
Ankle spanker – A very short pair of underpants.
Bum bag – A type of bag or pouch that you wear around your waist or hips.
Bum bandit – A type of bag or pouch that you wear around your waist or hips.
Bum blaster – A type of bag or pouch that you wear around your waist or hips.
Bum berries – The name given to nasty, smelly, dirty or stinky underwear.
Bum burner – A type of bag or pouch that you wear around your waist or hips.
Bum cleaver – A type of bag or pouch that you wear around your waist or hips.
Bum clod – A type of bag or pouch that you wear around your waist or hips.
Bum clog – A type of bag or pouch that you wear around your waist or hips.
Bum flasher – A type of bag or pouch that you wear around your waist or hips.
Bum flower – A type of bag or pouch that you wear around your waist or hips.
Bum gong – A type of bag or pouch that you wear around your waist or hips.
Bum gong bag – A type of bag or pouch that you wear around your waist or hips.
Bum hamper – A type of bag or pouch that you wear around your waist or hips.
Bum hamper bag – A type of bag or pouch that you wear around your waist or hips.
And more slang terms for underwear
Grundies
Buldgie Smugglers
Scants
Y-Fronts
Skivvies
Thongs
Sausage Skins
Granny Panties
Briefs
Tighty-whities
Bloomers
Thongs
Smalls
G-String
Unmentionables
Pantaloons
Banana Hammock
Grape Smugglers
Ball Bags
Wiener Basket
Manhole Cover
Pecker Packer
Junk Trunks
Trolleys
Kecks
Underoos
Trunks
Manties
Truncheon Holder
Knickers
Drawers
Nut Huts
Snake Suppressors
Obscure and Informal Words
Drawers: An old-fashioned term referring to the act of "drawing" them up one's legs.
Skivvies: An old-timey or military slang term for underwear in general.
Unmentionables: A Victorian-era euphemism for underwear, as the topic was considered inappropriate for public discussion.
Smalls: A British term for underwear, simply because they are usually the smallest items of clothing.
Jocks / Jockstraps: In Australia, "jocks" is a general term for male briefs, but in the US/UK, it specifically refers to an athletic supporter or jockstrap.
Grundies: An Australian slang term, short for "Reg Grundy" (rhyming slang for undies).
Union Suit: A historical one-piece undergarment that unites the upper and lower body pieces, often with a functional rear flap.
Banana Hammock: A highly informal and humorous term for small, brief-style swimwear or underwear.
Tighty Whities: A common, slightly derogatory, slang term for traditional white briefs.
Types of Men's Undergarments
The main types of men's undergarments are generally categorized by fit and coverage:
Briefs: Classic underwear with an elastic waistband and leg openings that end near the groin, offering full support and minimal leg coverage. The traditional style often features an inverted Y-shaped fly (known as Y-fronts in the UK).
Boxer Shorts: Loose-fitting shorts with an elastic waistband, usually extending to the mid-thigh. They offer minimal support but excellent ventilation.
Boxer Briefs: A popular hybrid style that combines the length of boxer shorts with the snug fit and support of briefs, providing coverage to the mid-thigh.
Trunks: Similar to boxer briefs, but with a shorter inseam and a more square-cut appearance, sitting lower on the hips. This is a common term for all male swimwear (swimming trunks) in the UK.
Jockstrap (Athletic Supporter): Primarily worn by athletes, it consists of an elastic waistband, a support pouch for the genitals (sometimes with a pocket for a protective cup), and two straps that go around the buttocks.
Long Johns (Thermal Underwear): A two-piece set (shirt and pants) of thin, long undergarments designed to be worn in cold weather for warmth.
Thongs/G-strings: Styles with minimal fabric that feature a narrow strip of material running between the buttocks to the waistband, offering the least coverage.