cotton knit pullover with long sleeves worn during athletic activity
"The player pulled on his cotton knit sweatshirt before stepping onto the court for warm-ups."
A loose shirt, usually made of a knit fleece, for athletic wear and now often used as casual apparel.
"She pulled on her oversized sweatshirt to stay warm while running errands around the neighborhood."
In plain English: A sweatshirt is a loose-fitting shirt made of soft cotton fabric that you wear to stay warm or look comfortable.
"I pulled on my old sweatshirt to stay warm while waiting for the bus in the cold wind."
Usage: A sweatshirt is typically worn alone or layered under other clothing rather than over it like an outer jacket. While similar to hoodies, this garment generally lacks the attached hood unless specified in its name.
The word is a straightforward combination of "sweat" and "shirt." It was coined to describe the heavy cotton garment designed specifically for absorbing perspiration during exercise.