Leotard vs. Tights — What's the Difference?

A leotard () is a unisex skin-tight one-piece garment that covers the torso from the crotch to the shoulder. The garment was made famous by the French acrobatic performer Jules Léotard (1838–1870).

Tights are a kind of cloth garment, most often sheathing the body from the waist to the toe tips with a tight fit, hence the name. They come in absolute opaque, opaque, sheer and fishnet styles — or a combination, such as the original concept of the American term pantyhose with sheer legs and opaque panty.

A snugly fitting, stretchable one-piece garment with or without sleeves that covers the torso, worn especially by dancers, gymnasts, acrobats, and those engaging in exercise workouts.

(UK) A close-fitting, sheer or non-sheer skin-tight garment worn principally by women and girls that covers the body completely from the waist down, usually including the feet.

A one-piece skintight garment with or without sleeves and without legs (often worn by gymnasts, acrobats, wrestlers, female swimmers, etc.)

(dance) A similar, non-sheer garment worn by dancers of either sex, especially by ballet dancers.

A tight-fitting garment of stretchy material that covers the body from the shoulders to the thighs (and may have long sleeves or legs reaching down to the ankles); worn by ballet dancers and acrobats for practice or performance

(wrestling) A garment, similar to briefs, worn chiefly by professional wrestlers.

(mining) In blasting rock, a piece of unbroken rock within the pay limit of a blast.

Close-fitting garments, especially for the lower part of the body and the legs.

Skintight knit hose covering the body from the waist to the feet worn by acrobats and dancers and as stockings by women and girls

Man's garment of the 16th and 17th centuries; worn with a doublet