What is the difference between a leotard and a unitard?

This is a common question that I hear pretty often, especially from newly-minted dance dads.  A leotard is a bodywear garment that resembles a one-piece swimsuit.  Leotards cover the body from the crotch to the shoulders (at least, some cover the arms as well) and are distinguished from other bodywear garments by their “brief” or “underwear-like” cut on the bottom.  No matter what a leotard’s sleeves or straps look like, a leotard is a leotard if it looks like underwear on the bottom. 

A unitard is a bodywear garment that is not brief cut at the bottom, but extends into shorts or pants.  Sometimes shorts-cut unitards are called biketards or bootietards, but I prefer the term “shorts unitard” because it more accurately describes the garment.  Unitards that extend into ankle-length leggings are more universally recognized as unitards.  Unitards can have many different styles of sleeves and straps, ranging from camisole spaghetti straps to full sleeves (and sometimes even full sleeves ending in gloves for “full body” unitards).

Usually leotards are worn for ballet.  Leotards and shorts unitards are common for gymnastics, jazz, tap, and modern dance.  Unitards with pant-length legs are usually only worn as costumes for classical dance, but are common practice-wear for contortionists and aerial dancers. 

If you are shopping for dancewear for a child, it is uncommon for the child to need a unitard with pant-length legs.  Shorts unitards are acceptable for gymnastics, jazz, tap, and modern if they are allowed under the studio’s dress code.  For ballet, young children are usually only allowed to wear leotards.  In any situation, if you are unsure of what the dancer needs, it is safest to purchase a leotard and add shorts or leggings over top if a unitard look is desired.