Transatlantic terminological confusions

In British English the term "short trousers" is used, but only for shorts that are a short version of real trousers, e.g. tailored shorts, often lined, as typically worn as part of school uniform for boys up to their early-to-middle teens from roughly 1920 to 1980 (and still in Australia, Singapore, New Zealand and South Africa), and by servicemen and policemen posted overseas to tropical climates. The American-English term "short pants" is probably the nearest equivalent. These might nowadays be called "dress shorts" or "walk shorts", terms which have not gained currency in Britain. A somewhat similar garment worn by men in Australia is called "stubbies". "Shorts" is used unqualified in British English to refer to sports shorts, athletic shorts, or casual shorts, the latter nowadays being, in the United Kingdom itself, commonplace in warm weather but never worn in the winter.

Matters are further complicated by the fact that "shorts" in American English can refer to underwear, which is not the case in British English (except recently in the compound term "boxer shorts"). Conversely, the word "pants" refers to outerwear (= trousers) in American usage but when used unqualified in British English usually means underpants.

United States & Europe

In the United States, the United Kingdom and much of Europe, historically, in the 19th and early 20th centuries, shorts were worn as outerwear only by young boys until they reached a certain height or maturity. When boys got older, typically around puberty, they would receive their first pair of long trousers. This produced the perception that shorts were only for young boys. Because of this, men would not wear shorts to avoid looking immature. Women tended not to wear shorts in most cultures, due to social mores. This is the reason in the famous play "Anything Goes" why Evelyn's famous line "I got hot pants for you" is funny.

In the 1890s, knee pants (an early type of short pants) became the standard wear for American boys. Many urban school portraits from the 1890s show all but the oldest boys wearing knee pants.

American boys normally wore knee pants with long stockings. This began to change after the 1900s when American boys began wearing knickerbockers, while short pants became more popular in Europe.

Since about World War II, when soldiers often served in tropical locations, adult men have worn shorts more often, especially in summer weather, but the perception of shorts as being only for young boys took several decades to change and to some extent still exists in certain circles.

Today, shorts are worn by either sex from birth through old age without any stigma attached. However, in many countries there are few formal settings where wearing shorts would be acceptable, as they are considered casual wear. Notable exceptions where men may wear short trousers to the office or at a formal gathering are South Africa and Bermuda.