bloomers

UK: /ˈbluːmə^rz/ US: /ˈblumɚz/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

bloo•mers¹ /ˈblumɚz/   n. [plural]

1. Clothing
   • loose trousers gathered at the knee, formerly worn by women for gymnastics or sports.
   • women's underpants of similar, but less bulky, design.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

bloomers / ˈbluːməz/ noun:plural

1. women's or girls' baggy knickers
2. (formerly) loose trousers gathered at the knee worn by women for cycling and athletics

Etymology: from bloomer, a garment introduced in about 1850 and publicized by Mrs A. Bloomer (1818–94), US social reformer

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

bloo•mer /ˈblumɚ/  n. [countable]

1. Botany a plant that blooms:
   a night bloomer.
2. a person who develops skills to the fullest capacity:
   She was a late bloomer.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

bloo•mer¹  (blo̅o̅′mər), n. 

1. Clothing a costume for women, advocated about 1850 by Amelia Jenks Bloomer, consisting of a short skirt, loose trousers gathered and buttoned at the ankle, and often a coat and a wide hat.
2. Clothing bloomers, (used with a pl. v.)
   • loose trousers gathered at the knee, formerly worn by women as part of a gymnasium, riding, or other sports outfit.
   • women's underpants of similar, but less bulky, design.
   • the trousers of a bloomer costume.
   • any of various women's garments with full-cut legs gathered at the bottom edge.

adj. 

3. Clothing (of a woman's garment) having full-cut legs gathered at the bottom edge:
   bloomer shorts.

• named after A.J. Bloomer 1850–55, American.

bloom•er²  (blo̅o̅′mər), n. 

1. Botany a plant that blooms:
   a night bloomer.
2. a person who develops skills, abilities, interests, etc., commensurate with his or her capacities:
   a quiet, methodical child who became a late bloomer.

• bloom¹ + -er¹ 1720–30

bloom•er³  (blo̅o̅′mər), n. 

1. British Terms a foolish mistake;
   blunder.

• bloom(ing) (as euphemism for bloody) + -er¹ 1885–90

Bloo•mer  (blo̅o̅′mər), n. 

Amelia Jenks  ( jengks), 1818–94, U.S. social reformer and women's-rights leader.