🧦 A base garment 📄 A base layer

underlayer

3.8

A thin piece of clothing worn under other clothes to keep you warm and dry

noun
/ˈʌndərˌleɪər/

: capa base

Athletes often choose a moisture-wicking underlayer to keep sweat away from their skin during workouts.

Examples

To tune that down, you could wear a neon colour as an underlayer and add crochet, lace or ganza or anything see through on top.
For outdoor activities in winter, wearing a thermal underlayer helps to trap body heat.
When dressing for the cold, it's important to start with a warm underlayer to stay comfortable.

Synonyms

underwear

vsunderlayer

507 1.0

Clothes that you wear next to your skin under other clothes

is more about layering for warmth or to absorb perspiration

undergarment

vsunderlayer

22 2.4

Clothing you wear under other clothes next to the skin

emphasizes use as a functional inner layer for heat or sweat

undershirt

vsunderlayer

13 1.0

A thin shirt without a collar worn under a shirt

is used more for warmth or to soak up sweat under outer shirts

underclothing

vsunderlayer

1 1.4

Clothes you wear next to your skin under other clothes

is an inner layer focused on warmth and absorbing sweat

underskirt

vsunderlayer

1 3.3

A thin skirt worn under a dress to make it fuller or more modest

is used more for thermal layering or sweat absorption than for shape

underrobe

vsunderlayer

1 8.8

A piece of clothing that you wear under a robe or gown for comfort

is focused on practical warming or sweat absorption rather than ceremonial use

undersuit

vsunderlayer

Specialized

1 6.1

A tight layer of clothing worn under a spacesuit to help control body temperature

serves similarly but is defined by warmth and absorbing sweat under clothing

underclothes

vsunderlayer

1.5

Clothes worn next to the skin under other clothes

is specifically used as a warming or sweat‑absorbing layer

undergarb

vsunderlayer

5.9

Clothes worn next to your body, like underwear

highlights the role as a warming or sweat‑absorbing layer rather than general use

undervest

vsunderlayer

4.4

A thin top you wear under a shirt to keep you warm

is intended especially as a layer to keep warmth or absorb sweat

undershorts

vsunderlayer

1.8

Short, tight underwear worn under clothes, usually by men

serves as an inner layer that can also provide warmth or absorb sweat

underslip

vsunderlayer

7.2

A thin piece of clothing worn under a dress or skirt to stop it being see-through

is instead focused on adding warmth or absorbing sweat under outerwear

underbodice

vsunderlayer

Archaic

9.9

A short sleeveless piece of underwear women wear under clothes

is aimed especially at providing warmth or soaking up perspiration beneath clothes

undertunic

vsunderlayer

Archaic

8.4

A thin garment worn under a tunic or armor for warmth and protection

is primarily an inner layer used for heat retention and sweat control

How Warm

thermal insulation

Specialized

1 3.8

fleece

22 3.2

underlayer

3.8

undershirt

13 1.0

Surface Forms

underlayer singular

underlayers plural

Morphology

underlayer = layer (transparent) = under + layer

Meaning is a direct combination of 'under' + 'layer' indicating a layer positioned beneath another, which is clear to learners. [Postprocessing: moved 'under' from base_words to prefix]

Etymology

Underlayer comes from two simple parts: under- meaning 'below' and layer meaning 'a level of material'. Think of underwear or an extra shirt worn under a sweater; an underlayer is clothing you wear beneath other clothes to keep you warm or to absorb sweat.