streetwear

noun

street·​wear ˈstrēt-ˌwer 

: a style of fashionable casual clothing that features items such as sneakers, hoodies, T-shirts, and baggy pants and that emerged from and is inspired by a blend of urban subcultures (such as hip-hop, skateboarding, and surfing)

In recent years, streetwear has blurred the lines between casual wear and luxury fashion. … From gym sessions to coffee runs, or even a night out layered under a jacket , these hoodies work everywhere.

—Gerrita Bikker

Originally rooted in the subcultures of skate and surf in California, streetwear has transcended its niche origins to become a dominant force in the global fashion industry.

—Usman Ghani

—often used before another noun

a streetwear brand

streetwear designers

Examples of streetwear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Between two days of elaborate streetwear exhibitions and headlining performances from Playboi Carti and Ken Carson, two dozen vendors turned dining into its own stand-alone attraction with Family Style Food Festival. — Melody Xu, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

For the milestone edition, streetwear pioneer Hiroshi Fujiwara and his Fragment Design label served as artistic directors alongside rapper Playboi Carti, shaping the festival’s products, programming and experiences. — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026

More closely associated with its long history with music, streetwear, or chintzy souvenir T-shirts tinged with childhood family vacation memories, this DIY technique is popping up across the major runways from Margiela to Dries Van Noten and beyond. — Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026

Her outfits ranged from princess dresses to Nineties-style streetwear. — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 26 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

street entry 1 + wear entry 2 (sense 2a)

First Known Use

1993, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for streetwear

• abwehr
• affair
• affaire
• airfare
• altair
• armchair
• aware
• beware
• bugbear
• carfare
• childcare
• compare