Pantyhose (called tights in the United Kingdom) are sheer, close-fitting legwear, covering the body from the waist to the feet. Considered a woman's garment, pantyhose appeared in the 1960s and provided a convenient alternative to stockings. Like stockings, knee and ankle-highs, pantyhose are usually made of nylon. Pantyhose are designed to, be fashionable, ease chafing between the foot and footwear, or between thighs, keep the legs and feet warm, hide physical imperfections such as blemishes, bruises, scars, hair, or varicose veins.

Besides being worn as fashion, in Western society pantyhose is sometimes worn by women when formal dress is required. For example, the dress code of some companies and schools require pantyhose or fashion tights to be worn when skirts or shorts are worn or as part of a uniform.

The term pantyhose originated in the United States to refer to the combination of panties (an American English term for women's underpants) with sheer nylon hosiery. In British English, they are called tights, a term that refers to all such garments regardless of whether they are sheer lingerie or sturdy outerwear. In American English the term tights may refer to pantyhose made from thicker, often opaque, material or alternately to non-sheer garments typically made of a stretchy material like spandex which do not necessarily cover the feet and is common with either gender during athletic activity or as utility clothing. In British English they are called leggings.

Tights are a kind of cloth leg garment, most often sheathing the body from about the waist to the feet with a more or less tight fit, hence the name.

Wearing of tights has a long history going back several centuries, when they were worn by men. Today, they are worn primarily by women and girls and some men and boys, as well as infants and toddlers of both sexes. In recent years, they have been sometimes offered as men's fashion. Athletic tights are already considered unisex.

In American English, the difference between pantyhose and tights 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 used in all cases when referring to pantyhose.

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

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.