bra

noun

ˈbrä How to pronounce bra (audio)
plural bras
: an undergarment that covers and supports the breasts
an underwire bra
… bras are much more than underwear in today's fashion milieu. If a bra shows a little these days, it's probably no accident …—Rebecca Quick
Nothing's worse than a bra that digs into your shoulders or irritates your skin with itchy fabric.—Marquaysa Battle

called also brassiere

see also bralette, sports bra
braless adjective

Examples of bra in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Athletic tops, shorts, and the popular lightweight comfort bras round out the collection, available in singles and sets. — ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026 Gerber’s bra and underwear were fully visible beneath her slinky LBD, which plunged all the way down to her ribcage. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 30 July 2026 Christie went for a silver-champagne suit with a sheer collared shirt and white heels, while Sailor bared her abs in a bold sequin pinstripe suit teamed with a sparkly bra. — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026 Instead of standard—and limited—S/M/L sizing, Dove’s auto-CAD software integrates six bra cup sizes directly into garment pattern blocks, creating 1,500 distinct sizing codes based on three statures, five figure shapes and 17 core body sizes. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bra

Word History

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bra was in 1933

Phrases Containing bra

Rhymes for bra

See All Rhymes for bra

Browse Nearby Words

BR
bra
Brabançon
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bra.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bra. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on bra

Nglish: Translation of bra for Spanish Speakers

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