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Three women wearing different styles of tights. Note that in American English, the two leftmost styles would be referred to as pantyhose.

Tights are a type of fabric leg covering, usually extending from the waist to feet, and fitting as tightly as possible to the body (from which the name derives).

In fashion they are worn today primarily by women and girls, as well as infants and toddlers of both sexes. In recent years, they have been sometimes offered as men's fashion and tights might evolve into a unisex garment. Athletic tights are already considered unisex.

In American English, the difference between pantyhose and tights in women's fashion is determined in the weight of the yarn used and the thickness to which the garment is knitted. Generally, anything up to 40 denier is known as pantyhose and anything over can be classified as tights. In the United Kingdom the word "tights" is always used.

There are many sub-classifications of women's tights/pantyhose that describe the precise construction (eg. control top, seamless, support). Although most tights are mainly nylon or cotton, lycra is normally included in modern blends to improve fit.

In women's fashion, unfooted tights are usually called leggings. Athletic tights are often unfooted, although they may have a "stirrup" that goes under the foot to hold the cuff down near the ankle.

A man's Renaissance-era costume with tights

Originally derived from the hose worn by European men several centuries ago, tights were made as close fitting as possible for practical reasons when riding horseback. For men of nobility the material would be made of silk or fine wool rather than the coarser fabrics used by the lower classes. At the time of King Henry VIII of England, such was the male fashion for displaying a well turned leg that even the king padded the calf area under his hose.

A dancer in a leotard and black tights.

Tights are common in the world of theater, especially in Renaissance-era costumes, and dance.

The term "tights" has been used to try to ridicule certain traditional British uniform. Most famously the Serjeant-at-Arms at the Palace of Westminster, after a protester got past the security, were described in the media as "middle aged men in tights"

For horseback riding, tights refers to light jodhpurs (riding pants that extend to the ankle) that are worn in summer or as an undergarment in winter. These pants, or 'riding tights', are cheaper to buy than jodhpurs or breeches (riding pants that extend to mid thigh intended for use with tall riding boots). In warm climates they can be worn all year round.

Tights can also describe the leg coverings worn in cycling and other athletics, especially by runners and wrestlers. These tights are usually a thicker spandex-blend, and are usually footless.

Athletic tights received some publicity during the 2005-2006 basketball season, when players started wearing the ankle-length tights under their uniform shorts. A prominent NBA player, Kobe Bryant, was one of the first to wear tights, and the style was subsequently adopted by several other NBA players, as well as some college and high school players. The style sparked controversy, leading to proposals to prohibit wearing tights with basketball uniforms.

• Robin Hood: Men in Tights, a parody film