Bottoms: Glossary of Terms

Trousers, jeans, and skirts — the full vocabulary for what goes below the waist.

Jeans

Woven denim trousers with a five-pocket construction. Cut in every rise, leg shape, and wash on the market.

Skinny jeans

Jeans cut close to the leg from thigh to ankle, with stretch built into the denim. Ankle opening narrower than the calf.

Straight-leg jeans

Jeans that fall in a straight line from thigh to hem, no taper or flare. A neutral, classic cut.

Wide-leg jeans

Jeans with a leg opening substantially wider than the thigh. Column-like from the hip.

Bootcut jeans

Jeans that flare slightly from the knee down, wide enough to sit over a boot shaft.

Flare jeans

Jeans with a pronounced flare from the knee. Wider than bootcut; the shape reads as its own statement.

Barrel-leg jeans

Jeans with a curved leg — wider through the thigh, tapering to a narrower ankle. A rounded 'O'-shape in profile.

Mom jeans

High-rise, straight or slightly tapered jeans with a relaxed fit through the seat and thigh.

Boyfriend jeans

Loose jeans cut with extra room in the thigh and a straight or slightly tapered leg. Meant to look borrowed.

Carpenter pants

Loose-fit trousers with tool loops on the thigh and reinforced knees. Originally workwear.

Trousers

Tailored non-denim pants, generally with a flat front or single pleat and a straight or tapered leg.

Chinos

Tailored cotton twill trousers, casual by tradition. Between jeans and dress pants in formality.

Cargo pants

Loose-fit pants with large flap pockets on the thigh. Originally military; a persistent casual staple.

Leggings

Skin-tight knit pants without a fly or pockets. Athletic or fashion; often worn as a base layer.

Joggers

Casual pants with an elasticated waist and cuffed ankles. Fleece, knit, or woven.

Sweatpants

Loose fleece-backed knit pants with an elastic or drawstring waist. Straight leg or tapered.

Shorts

Any trouser cut above the knee. Length names: short-shorts, bermuda (knee), cycling.

Bermuda shorts

Tailored shorts that end just above the knee. Structured, not casual.

Culottes

Wide-leg cropped trousers with a length between the knee and the ankle. Reads like a skirt from the front.

Palazzo pants

Very wide, floor-length trousers that drape from a fitted waist. Flowing, often in a soft fabric.

Updated 2026-07-30