Wearing no bra; not wearing a brassiere as an undergarment.
From bra (shortened from brassiere, from French bras 'arm') plus the negation suffix -less (from Old English leas 'without'). Emerged as a common term in the 1960s during the sexual revolution.
The term 'braless' became politically charged during the 1960s women's liberation movement when it represented a choice and act of protest—language doesn't just describe reality, it reflects cultural battles.
Term emerged mid-20th century as undergarment marketing and social control language. 'Braless' defines women by absence of clothing designed specifically for female bodies, centering male gaze rather than women's autonomy.
Use only when anatomically or functionally relevant (e.g., medical, athletic context). Avoid as descriptor of appearance or moral judgment. Center the person's choice and comfort, not the garment.
["unsupported","without undergarment support","unbound"]
Second-wave feminism reclaimed 'braless' as symbol of rejecting prescribed femininity, though the term itself remains bound to garment-centric framing of female bodies.
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