What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
shirt
Example
He wore a white shirt with black pants to the job interview. [shirt: noun]
Example
She is ironing her husband's shirts for work tomorrow. [shirts: plural noun]
polo
Example
He wore a blue polo shirt and khaki shorts to the golf course. [polo: noun]
Example
She has been playing polo since she was a teenager. [polo: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Shirt is a more common word than polo and is used in a wider range of contexts. Polo is less common and is often associated with preppy or sporty fashion or the sport played on horseback.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between shirt and polo?
Shirt is a versatile word that can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while polo is more commonly used in casual or sporty settings and may not be appropriate for formal occasions.