What is the difference between knickers and briefs

Search titles only. Search Advanced search…. Members Current visitors. Interface Language. Log in. Install the app. JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser. Thread starter Keanita Start date Aug 13, I was looking at Ann Summers site and I've just wondered what's the difference between knickers and briefs Is it just another way of saying the same thing?

For me, knickers are more kinda "culottes" but maybe they aren't. Senior Member Guadalajara, Mexico. Asked 9 years, 11 months ago. Active 8 years, 8 months ago. Viewed 95k times. Improve this question. Lucasus Lucasus 1 1 gold badge 1 1 silver badge 5 5 bronze badges. In the US, "panties" only refer to women's underwear, never men's. Charles The same happens in Japan! Add a comment. Active Oldest Votes. Improve this answer. This is surprising to me. In India, "knickers" is often used for "knickerbockers" see JeffSahol's answer or just any kind of shorts not underwear.

In the US, "panties" usually refers to women's garments, while "undies" means either men's or women's garments. This is one of us Brits' greatest sources of humour. For example, when someone from the US gets mud on his or her trousers and exclaims that they need to change their pants.

To say brief would be a rare occasion because as far as I'm concerned, its not been a word I've heard someone describe women's or men's underwear. In fact to hear the term briefs would be more reserved by use in publications or online stores to sell underwear. But much like the term panties, briefs can be used to refer to all types of women's underwear. I tell a lie, I've only heard the term brief used to describe women's full coverage panties, and less so thongs, g-strings or cheekies, for example.

Briefs in my opinion, is more a friendly term used to describe children's underwear, where the use of the word panty can sound a little sexual to minors.

So I therefore believe the only difference between a panty and brief, is panty can be used to refer to every type of women's underwear out there.

Whereas briefs can be only used to describe full coverage underwear only. That is if you're referring to women's panties as the term is bisexual, so it can be used to refer to men's and women's underwear. Not that you'll hear someone in real life refer to a panty as a brief, unless they're reading it off a shopping catalogue or browsing online - its also more common to hear more elderly refer to panties as briefs.

Briefs put me in the mind of regular panties, be it in a hipster, midi or bikini style - though all can be described as granny panties. Now go feel awesome We hope this little guide has made the wild world of underwear styles a little less confusing.

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