Shorts vs. Trousers — What's the Difference?

Casual wear.

Different materials.

Knee-length.

Business casual.

Sportswear.

Formal wear.

Beachwear.

Full-length.

Lightweight fabric.

Versatile clothing.

Shorts are a garment worn over the pelvic area, circling the waist and splitting to cover the upper part of the legs, sometimes extending down to the knees but not covering the entire length of the leg. They are called "shorts" because they are a shortened version of trousers, which cover the entire leg, but not the foot.

Trousers (British English), slacks, or pants are an item of clothing that might have originated in Central Asia, worn from the waist to the ankles, covering both legs separately (rather than with cloth extending across both legs as in robes, skirts, and dresses). In the United Kingdom, the word pants generally means underwear and not trousers.

Having little length; not long.

An article of clothing that covers the part of the body between the waist and the ankles or knees, and is divided into a separate part for each leg.

Having little height; not tall.

A garment worn by men and boys, extending from the waist to the knee or to the ankle, and covering each leg separately.

Extending or traveling not far or not far enough

(usually in the plural) a garment extending from the waist to the knee or ankle, covering each leg separately;

Lasting a brief time

Appearing to pass quickly

Not lengthy; succinct

Rudely brief; abrupt

Easily provoked; irascible

Inadequate; insufficient

Lacking in length or amount

Lacking in breadth or scope

Deficient in retentiveness

Holding a trading position that is inversely related to the price of a security or index

Of or relating to a short sale

Containing a large amount of shortening; flaky

Not ductile; brittle

(Linguistics) Of, relating to, or being a speech sound of relatively brief duration, as the first vowel sound in the Latin word mălus, "evil," as compared with the same or a similar sound of relatively long duration, as the first vowel sound in the Latin word mālus, "apple tree."

(Grammar) Of, relating to, or being a vowel sound in English, such as the vowel sound (ă) in pat or () in put, that is descended from a vowel of brief duration.

Being of relatively brief duration. Used of a syllable in quantitative prosody.

(Slang) Close to the end of a tour of military duty.

Abruptly; quickly

In a rude or curt manner.

At a point before a given boundary, limit, or goal

At a disadvantage

By means of a short sale

(Linguistics) A short syllable, vowel, or consonant.

A brief film; a short subject.

A size of clothing less long than the average for that size.

Shorts Short pants extending to the knee or above.

Shorts Undershorts.

A short sale.

One that sells short.

Shorts A byproduct of wheat processing that consists of germ, bran, and coarse meal or flour.

Shorts Clippings or trimmings that remain as byproducts in various manufacturing processes, often used to make an inferior variety of the product.

A short circuit.

A malfunction caused by a short circuit.

(Baseball) A shortstop.

To cause a short circuit in.

(Informal) To give (one) less than one is entitled to; shortchange.

To short-sell (a security or index).

To short-circuit.

Plural of short#Noun

Pants or trousers worn for sports or in warmer weather that do not go lower than the knees.

(dated) underpants.

(uncountable) Remnants, clippings, trimmings of production processes.

The part of milled grain sifted out which is next finer than the bran; pollard.

Short, inferior hemp.

Trousers that end at or above the knee

(usually in the plural) underpants worn by men

Trousers are garments covering the body from the waist to the ankles, with separate sections for each leg, suitable for all seasons.

Yes, trousers can be suitable for summer if made from light materials like linen or lightweight cotton.

Generally, shorts are not suitable for formal occasions; they are considered casual wear.

Trousers can be made from a variety of materials, including denim, wool, polyester, and cotton.

Shorts are garments that cover the body from the waist to the knees or higher, typically worn in warm weather or for sports.

Yes, shorts come in various styles, including cargo shorts, Bermuda shorts, and athletic shorts.

Shorts typically end above the knee but can vary from thigh length to knee length.

Shorts can be styled with casual shirts, tank tops, or light blouses, depending on the occasion.

Yes, trousers are worn by both men and women and are a staple in women's fashion for both casual and formal wear.

Yes, there are many types, including dress trousers, cargo pants, chinos, and jeans.

Trousers, especially in dark, solid colors or subtle patterns, are essential for business attire when paired with dress shirts and blazers.