shapewear

noun

shape·​wear ˈshāp-ˌwer How to pronounce shapewear (audio)
: tight-fitting undergarments designed to shape and smooth the body
… shapewear may be just the thing to wear under a clingy evening dress.—Sylvia Rubin
Shapewear … isn't about shrinking your waist to the size of your wrist, or getting your booty back to its prepubescent years; it's about making your clothes look and fit better.—Cloe Cabrera
In growing numbers, men are easing into a variety of shapewear, including elasticized tank tops …—Jean Patteson

Examples of shapewear 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.
The dress has a lightweight opaque lining that conceals your bra, undies, and shapewear. — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026 This must-have top may seem like your average tank, but it’s made from an ultra-stretchy material that acts like shapewear. — Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 26 June 2026 The brand has so many flattering, versatile staples worth shopping, from shapewear and loungewear, to office looks and date-night dresses. — Olivia Dubyak, Travel + Leisure, 1 July 2026 Traditional shapewear has its place in your undie drawer, but the best shapewear dresses offer a more streamlined approach to putting together an outfit. — Malia Griggs, Glamour, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for shapewear

Word History

Etymology

shape entry 1 + -wear (as in sportswear, underwear)

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shapewear was in 1962

Rhymes for shapewear

See All Rhymes for shapewear

Browse Nearby Words

shape up
shapewear
shaping dies
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shapewear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shapewear. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All