What are workers clothes called?
Author：HAIYUAN TIME：2025-09-26Read：
The clothing worn by workers goes by many names, depending on the specific job, industry, and purpose. There isn't just one single term, but they all fall under a few main categories. Here’s a breakdown of what workers' clothes are called, from general terms to more specific ones.
1. General, All-Encompassing Terms
These are the most common and broad terms for worker clothing.
- Workwear: This is the most universal term. It refers to clothing designed specifically for manual labor, prioritizing durability, functionality, and safety over fashion. (e.g., "This store sells high-quality workwear.")
- Work Clothes / Work Clobber: A simple, everyday term. "Work clothes" is understood by everyone. "Clobber" is a more informal, chiefly British English word for clothing.
- Uniforms: This term emphasizes that the clothing is standardized and provided by an employer to create a unified team identity. (e.g., a mechanic's uniform, a janitor's uniform).
2. Terms Focused on Safety and Function
These terms highlight the protective nature of the clothing.
- PPE (Personal Protective Equipment): This is a critical technical term. It refers to specialized gear worn to minimize exposure to hazards. While it includes helmets and goggles, clothing-wise it covers:
- Flame-Resistant (FR) Clothing: For electricians, welders, oil & gas workers.
- High-Visibility Clothing (Hi-Vis): For road crews, construction workers, first responders.
- Chemical-Resistant Suits / Coveralls.
- Protective Clothing / Safety Gear: A more general way to refer to PPE clothing.
- Overalls / Coveralls / Boilersuits: These are one-piece garments worn over regular clothes to protect them from dirt, grease, and hazards. "Overalls" is common in the US, while "boilersuit" or "coveralls" are used elsewhere.
3. Specific Types and Styles
Some work clothes have iconic names based on their style or original purpose.
- Dungarees / Overalls (in the UK): Historically refers to a type of sturdy fabric, but now often means a garment consisting of pants with a bib and braces (suspenders). Common in farming and carpentry.
- Boiler Suit: Similar to coveralls, a one-piece garment.
- Work Scrubs: In healthcare, while doctors and nurses wear traditional scrubs, "work scrubs" might refer to a more durable version for orderlies or veterinary technicians.
- Shop Coat / Lab Coat: A thigh-length or knee-length coat worn by mechanics, machinists, or scientists to protect their clothes.
How to Choose the Right Term (A Quick Guide)
In short: The most accurate and common umbrella term is workwear. But if you're talking about the clothes' life-saving function, the correct term is PPE. You can think of it like this: Workwear is the category, and items like flame-resistant coveralls or high-visibility uniforms are specific types within that category.
7×24H： +8619948039507 
