Protective clothing is worn to protect either the wearer's body or other items of clothing. Conversely, special clothes may protect the working environment from pollution and/or infection from the worker, for example in a microchip factory. The protection may also be important both ways, as with the use latex gloves by surgeons and dentists.

Protective clothing is also worn for contact sports, such as hockey and American football. Baseball players wear sliding shorts and a cup under their pants. See baseball uniform, jockstrap.

Protective clothing extends to body armor such as bullet-proof vests. See also armor.

See also protective materials such as Nomex, Kevlar.

Examples:

• apron protects the body and other clothing (also used as distinction by waiters)
• diaper (nappy in British English)
• gloves
• high-visibility clothing (to ensure visibility to prevent accidents)
• protective headgear
  • ear defenders
  • goggles
  • helmet
  • hardhat
    • bicycle helmet
    • motorcycle helmet
  • mask
    • gas mask
• protective footwear
  • steel-toe boots

Most forms of industrial clothing are protective clothing.