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A shirt is a sort of top, i.e. a piece of clothing for the trunk of the body.

In the UK, it refers almost exclusively to what Americans call a dress shirt, i.e. a garment with a collar and a full vertical opening with buttons. In the US is tends to have a vaguer meaning, being applied to many types of (mainly men's) tops, leaving the word "top" generally for ladieswear.

Some common types or synonyms of shirts and tops:

• T-shirt
• polo shirt — a shirt with collar but only a partial vertical opening with buttons
• shirt or dress shirt — a shirt with collar and full vertical opening with buttons
• tank top — a sleeveless T-shirt
  • wife beater — a tank top worn as an outer layer
• blouse — ladies shirt — the term is also used for some men's military uniform shirts.
• nightshirt — for sleeping
• sweater, sweatshirt — with or without hood
• rugby shirt — typically a rugged long-sleeved polo shirt
• Hawaiian shirt — a colourful short-sleeve dress shirt
• guayabera — an embroidered dress shirt with four pockets
• golf shirt — a polo shirt
• baseball shirt — usually distinguished by a three quarters sleeve
• fishnet shirt, transparent, see e.g.
• first shirt — the "shirt" is a nick-name for a First Sergeant

Tops which would generally not be called shirts:

• tube top or boob tube — a shoulderless, sleeveless "tube" that wraps the torso (not reaching higher than the armpits, staying in place by elasticity, see e.g )
• halter top — a shoulderless, sleeveless, backless garment for women. It is mechanically analogous to an apron with a string around the back of the neck and across the lower back holding it in place.

Other tops which are not generally referred to as shirts include vests, sweaters, jackets and coats.

Many terms are used to describe and differentiate types of shirts and their construction. The smallest differences may have significance to a cultural or occupational group.

Recently, (late 20th century) it has become common to use tops to carry messages or advertising. These can be screen printed or embroidered.

For such clothing, including vests, sweaters, jackets, etc. one can disinguish:

• With regard to covering the shoulders and arms:
  • with no covering of the shoulders or arms — a tube top (not reaching higher than the armpits, staying in place by elasticity, see e.g )
  • with only bands on the shoulders
  • covering the shoulders, but without sleeves
  • with short sleeves
  • with half-long sleeves
  • with long sleeves, may further be distinguished by the cuffs:
    • no buttons
    • buttons — single or multiple
    • buttonholes only for use with cufflinks

• With regard to level of the lower edge:
  • leaving the belly button area bare (much more common for women than for men)
  • until the waist
  • covering the crotch
  • covering part of the legs (essentially this is a dress; however, a piece of clothing is either perceived as a shirt (worn with trousers) or as a dress (in Western culture mainly worn by women).

and levels in between.

• With regard to opening:
  • vertical opening on the front side, all the way down, with buttons or zipper.
  • left and right front side not separable, put on over the head; with regard to upper front side opening:
    • V-shaped permanent opening on the top of the front side
    • no opening at the upper front side
    • vertical opening on the upper front side with buttons or zipper

• With regard to the neck:
  • with polo-neck
  • with collar. Furthermore the collar may have buttons at the tips for a "button-down collar". The collar may be a "turtle neck" collar that covers most of the throat.
  • without collar

• With regard to pockets: how many (if any), where, and with regard to closure: not closable, just a flap, or with a button or zipper.

• With or without hood

Some combinations are not applicable, of course, e.g. a tube top cannot have a collar.

See also:

• cardigan
• Jersey
• Jumper

• Tops