bloomers
|bloom-ers|
🇺🇸
/ˈbluːmərz/
🇬🇧
/ˈbluːməz/
(bloomer)
flowering or mistake
Etymology
'bloomer' (garment) originates from the surname 'Bloomer', specifically associated with Amelia Bloomer, a 19th-century American women's rights advocate who promoted a style of loose trousers that became known as 'bloomers'.
'bloomer' (garment sense) was named after Amelia Bloomer in the mid-19th century; separately, the occupational/agent sense 'bloomer' (one who blooms) derives from the verb 'bloom', ultimately from Old English 'blōma' meaning 'blossom' or 'flower', with the agentive suffix '-er' added later.
Initially, the term referred specifically to the style of clothing associated with Amelia Bloomer; over time it broadened to refer to various types of short or loose women's undergarments or gym wear. The agentive sense originally meant 'one who flowers' and later extended figuratively to people who develop late; additionally, 'bloomer' came to be used informally for a conspicuous mistake.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a type of loose, knee-length or short undergarment or outer garment for women and girls, originally promoted by Amelia Bloomer in the 19th century; also used for short athletic gym pants (esp. in school sports).
She wore bloomers under her skirt for modesty.
Synonyms
Noun 2
people who develop skills, talents, or success later than their peers (plural of 'bloomer' in the sense of someone who 'blooms' late).
Many bloomers in the class found their strengths only after several years.
Synonyms
Noun 3
(chiefly British, informal) Blunders or obvious mistakes (plural of 'bloomer' meaning a howler or gaffe).
There were a few bloomers in the report that needed correcting.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/12/25 23:08