pajama
pajama Lexical Profile
pajama Game Scores & Validity
• noun
American (Usually in the plural, 'pajamas') A loose-fitting garment consisting of a matching jacket or shirt and trousers, worn for sleeping or lounging.
"She packed a comfortable pair of flannel pajamas for the weekend trip to the cabin."
American Loose lightweight trousers tied at the waist with a drawstring, worn by both sexes in parts of South and West Asia.
"Traditional cotton pajamas are commonly paired with a long tunic known as a kurta across northern India."
• adjective
American Relating to, consisting of, or being a part of a set of pajamas, or involving the wearing of pajamas.
"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.