Note: The translation for this entry is currently under quality review. Some content is temporarily displayed in English only.
pants
In American English, this term refers to trousers. In British English, however, it refers specifically to undergarments, creating a significant regional divide in meaning. Using this word in London to describe outerwear may lead to humorous or awkward misunderstandings. Because the garment consists of two identical legs, it is treated as a plurale tantum. It is almost never used in the singular form unless referring to a specific style of clothing in a technical fashion context.
Countable when referring to individual pairs of garments (two pairs of pants). Uncountable when referring to the general category of clothing.