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A man wearing a jumpsuit

Jumpsuit is a term for a one-piece garment originally used for parachuting and skydiving, hence the name. It has later come to be used as a common term for any one-piece garment with sleeves and legs and has from time to time had its place in fashion.

Originally, jumpsuits were garments made for skydivers designed to minimize risk of covering important handles and grips. Today, it has found other specialised use by

• Aviators and astronauts, who sometimes wear insulated, fire-retardant jumpsuits or flight suits where other types of clothing can potentially float or flap about in zero gravity or during high-G maneuvers.
• Skiers, who wear insulated jumpsuits or ski suits to protect themselves from cold (especially after falling or tumbling in snow).
• Competitive skiers and speed skaters, who wear skin-tight jumpsuits to provide freedom of movement while minimizing air resistance.
• Drivers in motor racing, who wear jumpsuits for protection against fire and (in the case of motorcycle racers) abrasion.

The jumpsuit's simple one-piece design also makes it a practical garment for:

• Tradesmen, such as motor mechanics and plumbers, who often wear looser-fitting jumpsuits, or coveralls, where they need a better-protecting garment than an apron or bib.
• Small children, for whom a simple-to-launder one-piece garment can be especially convenient for parents to dress their children in. In countries with colder climates, snow suits, or jumpsuits quilted or padded for warmth, are popular during the wintertime.

The jumpsuit has sometimes been mandated as an institutional uniform, as it can be a unisex garment and can accommodate a wide range of body shapes. In particular, prisons in the United States frequently have jumpsuit uniforms for inmates colored bright orange, so as to be spotted easily.

Britney Spears performing in a jumpsuit-like stage costume.

Starting in the 1960s, the jumpsuit has also made occasional appearances in common and high fashion (particularly in the 1980s), but has never been a common item of everyday wear. They retain connotations of futurism, because they have been frequently featured in popular science fiction.^[1]

In pop music, jumpsuits have often been used as stage costumes by various singers and bands: Elvis Presley, Mick Jagger, The Who, Freddy Mercury, Alphaville, Goldfrapp, Britney Spears, Pink, Devo, Polysics and Slipknot, for example, have all performed in flamboyantly-designed jumpsuit-like garments. Catsuits, or skin-tight jumpsuits of shiny fabric, have also been popular on stage.

• Playsuit (fashion)