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Definition of pajama

pajama

/pəˈdʒæm.ə/
(UK: pyjama)
pa · ja · ma

Plural:pajamas
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pajama Lexical Profile

pajama Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

American (Usually in the plural, 'pajamas') A loose-fitting garment consisting of a matching jacket or shirt and trousers, worn for sleeping or lounging.

Example

"She packed a comfortable pair of flannel pajamas for the weekend trip to the cabin."


2

American Loose lightweight trousers tied at the waist with a drawstring, worn by both sexes in parts of South and West Asia.

Example

"Traditional cotton pajamas are commonly paired with a long tunic known as a kurta across northern India."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for pajama

• adjective

1

American Relating to, consisting of, or being a part of a set of pajamas, or involving the wearing of pajamas.

Example

"The elementary school organized a special pajama day to raise funds for the local library."

Word Nuance & Usage

When referring to the sleeping garment itself, the word is almost always used in the plural form ('pajamas' in American English; 'pyjamas' in British and Commonwealth English), while the singular 'pajama' is used attributively before another noun (e.g., 'pajama top' or 'pajama party').

• Rhymes for pajama

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the early 19th century via Hindustani from Persian 'pay-jama', a compound of 'pay' (leg or foot) and 'jama' (garment or clothing), originally referring to loose drawstring trousers worn in South Asia.

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Pajama. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/pajama
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