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jockey briefs

(US, dated, informal) Men's or boys' briefs.

ˈd͡ʒɑki ˈbɹifsDocumented since 1930s1930sSilenthistorical82 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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Born ~1934 · no dated citations yet
1934BornToday, 2026

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#1·Apr 27, 2026Global

(US, dated, informal) Men's or boys' briefs.

Stripped to his jockey briefs, he felt a coolness he had so wanted earlier.
Origin: Less common variant of jockey shorts. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents

"jockey briefs" means men's or boys' briefs. It is one of many casual words teens pick up from friends, social media, music or sport, and on its own it carries no particular warning. If you hear your teen use it, it is fair to ask what they mean by it in their friend group, since meanings drift quickly. Asking out of curiosity rather than alarm tends to keep the conversation open and useful.

For ESL learners

"jockey briefs" is informal English meaning men's or boys' briefs. It is mainly used in North American English. A more formal or neutral equivalent would be something like "men's or boys' briefs" expressed in standard vocabulary. A common mistake is to assume "jockey briefs" can replace its standard equivalent in every register; keep it for spoken or casual situations and use the formal form in writing. If you are a B2 or C1 learner, it is useful to recognise this word when you hear or read it, but think carefully about whether the situation really calls for it before using it yourself.

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For specific readers

"jockey briefs" means men's or boys' briefs. It is one of many casual words teens pick up from friends, social media, music or sport, and on its own it carries no particular warning. If you hear your teen use it, it is fair to ask what they mean by it in their friend group, since meanings drift quickly. Asking out of curiosity rather than alarm tends to keep the conversation open and useful.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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