skin tight

USAGE SUMMARY

"skin tight" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it to describe clothing that is fitting very tightly against the body. For example, "She wore a skin tight dress to the party."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

She was pale and compact, no sags or pouches, linen skin tight across the bone.

The New Yorker

A knot just beneath her skin, tight and secretive as a plot.

The New Yorker

Skin tight trousers made my butt look like a watermelon more than a peach.

Huffington Post

I do love the promo shot of you in the skin tight mini with the stethoscope.

Huffington Post

I paired baggy vintage Victoria Secret flannel with skin tight two pieces off-mall racks.

Huffington Post

Stretch your skin tight.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

She still wears skin-tight clothes.

The New York Times - Arts

Girls in skin-tight PVC catsuits?

The Guardian - Film

The singers pranced around the musicians, wearing skin-tight leather.

The New York Times - Arts

Forget the skin-tight, strapless gowns that flatter the figure.

The New York Times

Skin-tight Sergio Valente jeans are selling again.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the hyphenated form "skin-tight" when the phrase acts as an adjective before a noun, such as "skin-tight jeans" or "skin-tight leather"

Common error

Avoid using "skin tight" to describe abstract concepts like deadlines or budgets. While it literally refers to physical tension or fit, using it for non-physical objects can sound jarring. Opt for terms like "stringent" or "narrow" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "skin tight" functions primarily as a compound adjective. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it is used both predicatively (e.g., "linen skin tight across the bone") and attributively with a hyphen (e.g., "skin-tight clothes"). According to Ludwig AI, it is used to describe an extreme degree of closeness or tension.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

35%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Legal

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "skin tight" is a robust and widely accepted phrase in written English. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness for describing clothing or surfaces that fit without any loose space. While it appears frequently in news and lifestyle media, writers should be mindful of the hyphenation rule: use a hyphen when the phrase precedes the noun it modifies. The phrase is highly effective for vivid descriptions but should be used sparingly in strictly formal or academic contexts where more clinical terms like "form-fitting" might be preferred.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

skin-tight

Standard hyphenated form used as a compound adjective preceding a noun

skintight

The closed compound version of the phrase, less common in formal editing

form-fitting

More professional and less colloquial way to describe tight clothing

body-hugging

Focuses on how the garment follows the contours of the body

tight-fitting

A more generic term that describes snugness without the intensity of skin contact

figure-hugging

Emphasizes the aesthetic shape created by the tight clothing

snug

Implies a comfortable but close fit, less extreme than skin tight

clinging

Describes fabric that sticks to the body, often due to moisture or static

second-skin

A metaphorical way to describe clothing that feels integrated with the body

body-con

A specific fashion industry term derived from body-conscious

FAQs

How to use "skin tight" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe something fitting extremely closely to the body, for example: "She wore a "skin-tight" suit for the performance."

What is the difference between "skin tight" and "form-fitting"?

While both describe close-fitting garments, "skin tight" implies an extreme lack of space, whereas "form-fitting" is a more neutral or professional term for clothes that follow a body's shape.

Is "skin tight" one word or two?

It is typically written as two words ("skin tight") or hyphenated ("skin-tight") when used as an adjective. The single-word "skintight" is also recognized but less common in formal publications like The New York Times.

What can I say instead of "skin tight"?

Depending on the context, you can use "body-hugging", "snug", or "tight-fitting".