Tighty Whities

A mocking term for men’s white briefs, used because men’s briefs fit tightly around the crotch and are often white in color. The term first gained popularity among adolescent males in the 1990s, when boxer shorts began to usurp briefs as the most popular style of underwear among young men. In the years since, as white briefs have become less and less stylish due to the rise in popularity of hybrid styles such as boxer briefs and trunks, the derogatory term has become a generally accepted one to describe men’s white briefs.