Underpants are

underwear Undergarments, underclothing, or underwear are items of clothing worn beneath outer clothes, usually in direct contact with the skin, although they may comprise more than a single layer. They serve to keep outer garments from being soiled o ...

worn on the lower body. In

British English British English (BrE, en-GB, or BE) is, according to Oxford Dictionaries, "English as used in Great Britain, as distinct from that used elsewhere". More narrowly, it can refer specifically to the English language in England, or, more broadl ...

the term is often shortened to pants and refers to men’s clothing only.

Types of underpants

Long underpants

Long underpants are the bottom half of a style of two-piece underwear called long underwear, long johns, or thermal underwear, that has long legs and long sleeves that is normally worn during cold weather, and is commonly worn by people under their clothes in cold countries. The male version of a long underwear bottom may or may not have a front fly.

Boxer shorts

Boxer shorts, boxers, or trunks (Britain), have an elasticated waistband that is at or near the wearer's waist, while the leg sections are fairly loose and extend to the mid-thigh. There is usually a

fly Flies are insects of the order Diptera, the name being derived from the Greek δι- ''di-'' "two", and πτερόν ''pteron'' "wing". Insects of this order use only a single pair of wings to fly, the hindwings having evolved into advanced ...

, either with or without

button A button is a fastener that joins two pieces of fabric together by slipping through a loop or by sliding through a buttonhole. In modern clothing and fashion design, buttons are commonly made of plastic but also may be made of metal, wood, o ...

s. The waistbands of boxers are usually wider than those of the various types of briefs, and often bear the

brand name A brand is a name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that distinguishes one seller's good or service from those of other sellers. Brands are used in business, marketing, and advertising for recognition and, importantly, to create an ...

of the manufacturer.

Boxer briefs

Boxer briefs are similar in style to boxer shorts, but are form-fitting like classic briefs. Like briefs they often utilize a fly. Sometimes boxer briefs are called ''trunks'' (Britain), but see next section.

Midway briefs

Midway briefs are similar in style to boxer briefs, but are longer in the leg, at the longest being up to the knees.

Trunk briefs

Trunk briefs, also known as simply trunks, are shorter than boxer briefs but still have leg sections, unlike briefs."High Anxiety in the Underwear Department"
''The Wall Street Journal''. New York. May 14, 2009.

Briefs

Classic briefs have an elasticated waistband at or near the wearer's waist, and leg bands that end at or near the

groin In human anatomy, the groin (the adjective is ''inguinal'', as in inguinal canal) is the junctional area (also known as the inguinal region) between the abdomen and the thigh on either side of the pubic bone. This is also known as the medial comp ...

. Many briefs feature a fly. They also come in ultra-absorbent varieties.

Bikini briefs

Bikini briefs are a variation on classic briefs that have less coverage; though typically full coverage of the

derrière The buttocks (singular: buttock) are two rounded portions of the exterior anatomy of most mammals, located on the posterior of the pelvic region. In humans, the buttocks are located between the lower back and the perineum. They are compose ...

. Conventionally, they have no fly.

Thong

Thongs are like bikini briefs, except the backside is very narrow and goes between the buttocks.

Panties

“Panties” is a general term for female underpants. The UK English equivalent is “knickers.”

Diapers

Diapers are a type of underwear worn by young children and those suffering from incontinence. Unlike other briefs, diapers allow the wearer to urinate or defecate without soiling their surroundings. These can be either reusable or disposable.

History

References

{{Authority control Undergarments