Origin: Greek prefix pan-
Pants has 7 different meanings across 2 categories:
An outer garment that covers the body from the waist downwards, covering each leg separately, usually as far as the ankles; trousers.
"I can't find my matching pants because I washed them separately."
plural of pant
In plain English: Pants are a pair of loose-fitting trousers that cover your legs from your waist down to your ankles.
"I need to buy new pants because my old ones are torn."
Usage: In modern American English, "pants" refers to an outer garment covering the body from the waist to the ankles, with separate leg coverings. Although it is grammatically plural in form, treat it as a singular item when discussing style or ownership, such as saying "These pants are new."
To pull someone’s pants down; to forcibly remove someone’s pants.
"He pants heavily after running up the steep hill."
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of pant
In plain English: To pants is to breathe heavily and quickly, usually because you are out of breath from running or working hard.
"The dog pants loudly in the hot sun."
Usage: Do not use "pants" to describe someone breathing heavily; instead, use the third-person singular form "pant." The word "pants" as a verb typically means to wear trousers in British English or to breathe with one's mouth open when tired.
Of inferior quality, rubbish.
"The free sample pants were so poorly made that I threw them away immediately."
In plain English: When something is described as pants, it means it is extremely bad or useless.
"The pants were too tight and uncomfortable to wear."
Usage: Do not use "pants" as an adjective to mean "inferior" or "rubbish," as this is incorrect; instead, reserve it strictly for the noun referring to trousers. In formal writing and speech, avoid calling something "pants" entirely, even informally, because the phrase sounds overly colloquial and unprofessional.
plural of Pant
"After hiking all day, I pulled on my warm wool pants to keep my legs dry and comfortable in the cold wind."
From Middle English pant, originally meaning to breathe heavily, it later shifted in Early Modern English to denote breeches or trousers. The connection between heavy breathing and loose clothing likely stems from the sound garments make when worn by someone out of breath.