WordGarden.iocollarless
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /kˈɒlələs/
US
Meanings
Adjective
of clothing, made without a collar
Beyond the definition
Imagine a shirt—most have a band around the neck called a collar. A collarless garment simply skips that part, so it feels softer and more casual. Think of a simple t-shirt or a polo without a collar; both are familiar examples. The word is used mainly for clothing, especially shirts, blouses, jackets, or dresses. In everyday speech it can also hint at a relaxed style or an atmosphere that is less formal, with fewer strict rules or expectations.
The context is mostly fashion-focused, but people may borrow it more loosely to describe a person or setting as open, easy, and unforced—still, that use is less common than the literal one.
The word collarless literally means having no collar—the band around the neck that you often see on shirts, blouses, and jackets. The meaning is usually literal, and it is most common in fashion and everyday descriptions of clothing: collars are simply absent.
Historically, high collars were tied to formal dress and social convention, so choosing collarless designs could signal a practical, easier, and more relaxed approach to dressing. Today, you'll usually meet the word in references to shirts, jackets, and dresses where people want a cleaner or more natural neckline. A collarless top can feel cooler in warm weather and work well in casual or creative settings.
In casual talk, people may use it more figuratively to suggest a relaxed, less rigid attitude—more about ease than strict rules. Think of the visual contrast: a structured shirt with a collar versus a soft garment without one. That difference says a lot about style, tone, and level of formality. In most cases, "collarless" remains a practical fashion term first and a metaphor second.
Examples
- 1
Clothing
He bought a collarless shirt for the summer.
- 2
Uniforms
The hotel staff wear collarless jackets instead of formal blazers.
- 3
Dress style
The dress is collarless, so a necklace stands out more.
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- collarlessadjective