word choice - What is a less controversial name for the clothing item known as a "wife-beater" in the United States?


In the United States, a white sleeveless shirt is often referred to as a "wife-beater".


Typically I try to avoid using "wife-beater" due to its negative connotation. I've tried using a few different terms in the past, but each felt a bit too broad or generalized.



Is there a more appropriate term I can use in place of wifebeater here in the United States?


The aforementioned wifebeater


Note: This question is asking what alternative terminology can be used when referring to a "wife-beater". This question is not asking why the term is used or where it originated from. For that, see: What's the origin of "wife-beater" when used as a sleeveless shirt and why is it not frowned upon?



For those interested in how region affects the local terminology, I've included a Google Trends comparison for "undershirt, wife beater, singlets, and sleeveless shirt" below.


Google search trends



Answer



The shirt in the OP is not the best example of what people, at least originally, meant by "wifebeater".


Instead, "wifebeater" meant a finely ribbed, thin fabric, white, A-shirt, sold in multipacks as a men's undershirt like this.


For higher quality shirts like in the OP, say "tank top".


For a true "wifebeater" shirt, say "sleeveless undershirt". By "true" I mean:


enter image description here


See the 1998 article Teen Slang for Undershirts ("Wife-beaters") Causes Stir:



A "wife-beater"...is an old fashion, sleeveless undershirt... The "wife-beater" shirt isn't some nouveau tank top. It's the ribbed undershirt once worn only by granddads and Stanley Kowalski in A Street Car Named Desire



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