# pants

> English word · Noun · IPA /pænts/ · frequency rank #3,119

## Definitions
1. An outer garment that covers the body from the waist downwards, covering each leg separately, usually as far as the ankles; trousers.
2. An undergarment that covers the genitals and often the buttocks and the neighbouring parts of the body; underpants.
3. Rubbish; something worthless.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Ancient Greek πᾶς (pâs)
Ancient Greek ἔλεος (éleos)
Proto-Indo-European *-eti
Proto-Indo-European *-eyéti
Proto-Indo-European *-esyéti
Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁ti
Proto-Indo-European *-yeti
Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁yeti
Proto-Indo-European *-yeti
Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti
Ancient Greek -έω (-éō)
Ancient Greek ἐλεέω (eleéō)
Proto-Indo-European *-mṓ
Ancient Greek -μων (-mōn)
Ancient Greek ἐλεήμων (eleḗmōn)
Ancient Greek Παντελεήμων (Panteleḗmōn)bor.
Spanish Pantaleónder.
Italian Pantaloneder.
French pantalonbor.
English pantaloon
English pantaloons
English pants
Shortened from pantaloons (“trousers”): borrowed from French pantalon, itself derived from Italian Pantalone, one of the principal characters found in commedia dell'arte, who wore tight trousers. Doublet of pantsu. The verb is from the noun.

## Easily confused with
- **pat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pants-vs-pat)
- **pas** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pants-vs-pas)
- **PTS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pants-vs-pts)
- **part** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pants-vs-part)
- **past** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pants-vs-past)
- **pass** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pants-vs-pass)
- **path** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pants-vs-path)
- **puts** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pants-vs-puts)
- **pays** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pants-vs-pays)
- **pets** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pants-vs-pets)
- **pins** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pants-vs-pins)
- **pots** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pants-vs-pots)
- **pens** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pants-vs-pens)
- **pits** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pants-vs-pits)
- **pint** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pants-vs-pint)
- **punt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pants-vs-punt)
- **paws** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pants-vs-paws)
- **pats** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pants-vs-pats)
- **puns** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pants-vs-puns)
- **pate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pants-vs-pate)

## Common misspellings (8)
`apnts`, `pannts`, `panst`, `pantss`, `pantts`, `patns`, `pnats`, `ppants`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/pants