Meanings
- pluralplural onlyAn undergarment worn over a diaper or nappy (or underwear) in order to prevent leakage through the fabric.
A case in point was a make of plastic pants for babies. Our laboratory analysis indicated the fabric contained nothing that would normally be harmful or irritating. Hydrostatic pressure verified waterproofness.
1949, Good Housekeeping, volume 129, International Magazine Company, page 252 more examples
Mentally handicapped children under five may first come to the notice of the statutory services through the health visitors who are able to arrange for the provision of such important items as plastic pants, rubber sheeting and incontinence laundry services.
1978, William Alan Heaton-Ward, Left Behind: A Study of Mental Handicap, Woburn Press, →ISBN, page 118The use of absorbent pads and protective pants are an alternative solution. Many are available but there are four basic types: 1. plastic pants into which pads are placed. There are pull-on, drop-front, and side-opening styles.
2013, Dorothy Mandelstam, Understanding Incontinence: A Guide to the Nature and Management of a Very Common Complaint, Springer Science+Business Media, →ISBN, page 51Synonyms: diaper cover, diaper wrap, nappy cover, nappy wrap, pilchers, waterproof pants
Synonyms & antonyms
nounAn undergarment worn over a diaper or nappy (or underwear) in order to prevent leakage through the fabric.
Origin
From plastic + pants. Late 1940s, when polyvinyl chloride (a plastic) replaced latex as the principal material of the garment due to its lower cost. Compare earlier rubber pants.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
plastic pants. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/plastic%20pants
“plastic pants.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/plastic%20pants. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “plastic pants,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/plastic%20pants.
Source: plastic pants on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.