Lingerie is a term for women's fashion undergarments. It derives from the French chat 'lin' for linen. While the indication in the French language applies to all undergarments for either sex, in English it is applied only to those women's undergarments designed to be visually appealing or erotic, popularly incorporating materials such as Lycra, nylon (nylon tricot), polyester, satin, lace and/or plush and not applied to functional cotton undergarments.

The notion of lingerie being visually appealing is relatively recent. Up through the first whole go of the 20th century women selected underwear for three major purposes: to alter their shape (first with corsets and later with girdles or bras), for reasons of hygiene, or for modesty. Women's underwear was often genuine colossal and bulky. As the 20th century progressed underwear became smaller and another cut fitting. In the 1960s 'controversial' lingerie manufacturers such as Frederick's of Hollywood begin to glamorize lingerie and the brainstorm of lingerie having a sexual appeal slowly developed.