Sweater Vs Hoodie, Main Differences Between These

When in doubt on how to differentiate a sweater from a hoodie, remember the last time you used one and for what purposes. That, and many other factors, are the keys to seeing the main differences between these two.

One of the main distinctions between these terms is that a sweater is a knitted clothing piece used to cover the upper body. On the contrary, the hoodie is a sweatshirt with a hood that covers the head.

Even though they have many similarities at first glance, the differences are more noticeable when we start understanding the style, usage, and purpose of each. In this article, we will review them and provide a brief explanation.

Definition And Its Usage

As explained earlier in the article, a sweater by definition is a knitted or warm piece of garment, jacket, jersey, cardigan style, or pullover, typically with long sleeves. This is made of knitted wool or sometimes other materials such as cotton. It is worn on the upper part of the body to keep you warm, especially in the winters. It is also made of lightweight material, which makes it comfy and soft due to its design.

 

Children and adults of various genders typically wear sweaters. They tend to combine it with a shirt, top, or just by itself. Also, they are easy to maintain by just washing and dry cleaning them. Furthermore, they come in several fabrics such as wool, cotton, synthetic fibers, and combinations.

Regarding the term “hoodie,” this piece of clothing is similar to a sweatshirt, sweater, or perhaps, a casual jacket. It is usually made with thick cotton and has a hood on the top so you can cover your head. Just like the sweater, this garment is great for winter since it keeps you warm and feeling comfortable because it’s more protective. It is characterized by its fitted waistband and cuff, which traps heat perfectly. Also, sometimes it comes with a drawstring to adjust the hood to the user’s liking.

Main Differences and Similarities

The fundamental distinction between a sweater and a hoodie is how they’re made. A sweater is usually knitted, but a hoodie utilizes heavier cotton.

In addition, sweaters are used to keep you warm in the colder seasons. They are made of lighter material that can also be perfect for warmer seasons like summertime. Likewise, hoodies have the same function but are also famous for absorbing sweat, making them a prevalent choice for athletes and fitness lovers.

Regarding the seam of these two garments, a hoodie is serged. At the same time, the sweater is just woven together, making sure they don’t unravel. Also, the construction of these two pieces of clothing, the hoodie uses a fabric called “fleece .”This makes this apparel sometimes softer and more comfortable than the sweater, which is already easy to wear due to its “one-layer” design compared to the double layers that a hoodie has.

Examples with sentences

To better understand the terms and how to use them in daily life, here are some sentences with each word.

Sentences examples with the term “Sweater”:

1. Since it was a cold night, he decided to wear jeans, ugg boots, and a knit sweater.
2. We all wore red sweaters for Christmas Eve, and the family picture came out looking amazing.
3. When she arrived home, she looked down and noticed the sweater’s sleeves were soaked in water due to the heavy rain.
4. She dressed in a light sweater for the evening, and she paired it with some long trousers.
5. Sweater dresses are so comfortable and easy to wear at any moment, and you can elevate the look with some accessories.
6. He noticed the silver diamonds on his mother’s sweaters and wondered how much they cost.
7. After a long shopping spree at the mall, she picked a pink knitted sweater and three pairs of shoes for her birthday.
8. The teacher gave beautiful sweaters to her students for Valentines’ day.

Now, some sentences examples with the term “Hoodie”:

1. She prefers wearing hoodies over sweaters since she likes how stylish it looks.
2. Recently it is becoming a trend to wear graphic hoodies after the emergence of street style in the fashion industry.
3. He used to wear hoodies when he went to high school and even wore them in the summer.
4. The new collection launched a variety of sporty hoodies with pockets and drawstrings.
5. This hoodie is only available on the website and will be sold out soon since it is limited.
6. I love tie-dye hoodies because they have vivid colors that are great for the summertime.
7. Many kids in Elementary School start getting interested in fashion, and one of the clothing pieces they start wearing are hoodies.
8. When going outside at low temperatures, it is best to wear a warm garment such as a coat, sweater, or hoodie.

Synonyms

Sweater: neckline, cardigan, neckband, turtleneck, garment, polo-neck, pullover, jumper, slipover, sweatshirt, jersey, raglan, maillot, raglan, shrug, cotton, wool, cashmere, long-sleeved, crew neck, clothing, t-shirt, v neck, perspire, long jumper, sweater vest, knitwear, etc.

Hoodie: blazer, bomber jacket, dinner jacket, mock turtleneck, oxford shirt, tactical vest, halterneck, coats, cape, body warmer, bunnyhug, cloak, gabardine, greatcoat, gown, overcoat, lumber jacket, overall, sports jacket, tailcoat, raincoat, topcoat, trench coat, etc.

Antonyms

Sweater and hoodie: undergarment, overgarment, undress, unclothe, uncovered, overdress, underdress, bare, exposed, etc.

History and Etymology

Sweaters were initially produced on the English channel after the first knitted shirts in the fifteenth century. They received the name of “jersey.” Earlier, it used to mean “one who works hard” (in the 1520s), but then in 1828, it was defined as ” a woolen vest, jersey, or piece of clothing worn to produce sweating and reduce weight.” Due to its popularity, this spread to other parts of Europe, especially the working class. In 1890, American athletes adopted this and called it a “sweater.” It started getting famous and common to use before or after exercising to prevent catching a cold.

According to the majority of British dictionaries, a sweater is related to a cardigan, pullover, or even some consider it a type of “jumper.”

Concerning the word hoodie, earlier, it was considered a term for “hooded crow” in 1789. Then it became a slang shortening for “hooded sweatshirt” declared in 1991.

The word “hood” derives from the Anglo-Saxon “hod,” related to an English hat. This garment style can be traced back to Medieval times when the clothing for monks was with a hood attached to a robe or tunic, and also common for outdoors workers. It appeared in the twelfth century in England, presumed to be from an import with the Norman Conquest of England.

The hooded pullover originated in the United States around the 1930s, especially for workers who lived in cold New York warehouses. So we can say that hoodies were targeted at laborers that worked in freezing areas of upstate New York and became popular around the 1990s for the general public. Hip-hop culture was a significant influence on high fashion at the time, which helped increase the hoodie’s popularity back then, and it’s still prevalent until this day.

Conclusion

In summary, we can conclude that even though these garments are very similar to each other, the primary distinction between them is that a sweater is a knitted or cotton pullover with long sleeves made with a lighter material. In comparison, hoodies are sweatshirts made with thicker material. What makes it so unique is the hood that covers your head. Both clothing pieces can be used in the Winter season and sometimes can get adapted to the summer as well. They are loved by many people of different ages and genders.