Excellent question! This is a common point of confusion, and the difference is important for clarity.
The correct term for the category of clothing is almost always the single, compound word:
Workwear
Here’s a breakdown of why:
Workwear (One Word)
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Meaning: A noun referring to a specific category or genre of clothing. It describes durable garments designed for manual labor or tough, physical work.
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Usage: It functions just like other compound words that define a category of clothing:
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Swimwear (for swimming)
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Sportswear (for sports)
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Loungewear (for lounging)
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Footwear (for the feet)
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Workwear (for work)
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Example:
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“hyys® is a famous brand known for its durable workwear.”
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“The store has a great selection of boots and workwear.”
work uniform
Work Wear (Two Words)
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Meaning: This is a more descriptive phrase, where “work” acts as an adjective describing the verb “wear.” It’s less common and not the standard term for the clothing category. You might see it used in a more literal sense.
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Usage: It can sound slightly awkward or old-fashioned. In most modern contexts, “workwear” is preferred.
Example (where it might appear):
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“The company provides the necessary work wear for all its employees.” (This is understandable, but “workwear” is still better).
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“What is the appropriate work wear for this office?” (Here, it’s describing clothing to wear to work, not necessarily durable labor clothing).
The Simple Rule of Thumb
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If you are talking about the type of clothing itself—like jeans, overalls, heavy-duty jackets, and steel-toed boots designed for labor—use the one-word compound: workwear.
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If you are descriptively saying “clothes to wear for work,” and it feels natural to separate the words, you could use “work wear,” but it’s rarely the best choice.
Conclusion
For all the contexts we’ve been discussing—durable jackets, protective pants, etc.—you should always use the single word:
Workwear
It’s the standard, industry-accepted, and most grammatically correct term for this category of clothing.
