Uniform

A uniform is a type of clothing worn by people who belong to an organization, typically while they are carrying out that organization's work. Today, uniforms are most common among military forces and groups like police, emergency services, and security guards. They are also used in some workplaces and schools, and are required for prison inmates. In certain countries, other officials also wear uniforms on the job, such as the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service or French prefects. For some organizations, like the police, it may be against the law for non-members to wear the uniform.

The word comes from Latin: *unus* (one) and *forma* (form).

**Corporate and work uniforms** Many workers wear uniforms or company clothing. This includes retail staff, bank and post-office employees, public-security and health-care workers, blue-collar laborers, personal trainers, summer camp instructors, lifeguards, janitors, public-transit workers, tow-truck and truck drivers, airline and holiday company employees, and staff in bars, restaurants, and hotels. Using uniforms in business or public services is often part of branding and creating a standard corporate image, and it also affects the employees who must wear them. The term "uniform" can be misleading because employees may not all look exactly alike or wear clothes provided by the organization, yet still represent it through their attire. Academic research on organizational dress describes two key aspects: uniformity (how similar the clothing is) and conspicuousness (how noticeable it is). For instance, if all employees wear black, they stand out and represent the company, even if only the color is consistent, not the style. Studies have shown that conflicts between management and workers over dress codes are really about deeper meanings and identities. Dress is also seen as one part of a larger set of symbols and artifacts that form a kind of communication system within organizations.

**Armed forces and security** Military uniform is the standard clothing worn by members of a country's armed forces and paramilitary groups. Military styles have changed greatly over time, from colorful and elaborate designs to practical camouflage for the battlefield. Standardized, distinctive uniforms meant for identification and display are a sign of organized military forces backed by a central authority. Most military forces have several different types of uniform, including combat, service, dress, full dress, and mess dress.

**Medical workers** Uniforms help tell apart different types of staff in hospitals and clinics: doctors, surgeons, nurses, support staff, and volunteers. Traditional female nurses' uniforms look similar to the habits worn by religious orders. Equipment, such as stethoscopes, is worn like a badge of office and may accompany or even replace a medical uniform.

**Educational** Many schools in various countries require students to wear uniforms. These range from a simple T-shirt to strict formal wear at private schools. Mandatory school uniforms are common in places like Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, India, Australia, the UAE, Singapore, Albania, the Philippines, some schools in Taiwan, New Zealand, South Africa, Indonesia, and the United Kingdom. In some countries, uniform styles differ from school to school. In the UK, for example, students aged 11 to 16 often wear a blazer, tie, and trousers for boys, and a blouse, tie, and trousers, skirt, or culottes for girls. Ties usually have a set pattern or embroidered logo, and jackets have a badge on the breast pocket showing the school's name, coat of arms, and motto or emblem. Many British primary school children wear a jumper or polo shirt with the school name and logo. Some universities in North Korea also require students to wear uniforms.

**Diplomats** From around 1800 until after World War II, diplomats from most countries (and often senior non-military officials) wore official uniforms at public events. Today, only a few diplomatic services still have such uniforms, and they are rarely worn.

**Police** Police in every country wear a uniform to identify themselves as law enforcement. The uniform distinguishes them from the public during overt policing. Each country usually has its own distinct police uniform. This is different from plainclothes or undercover work.

**Sports** Most sports teams wear uniforms in their team's colors. In individual sports like tennis and golf, players can choose any clothing allowed by the rules. To avoid confusion between two opposing teams wearing similar colors, teams have different "home" and "away" uniforms, typically one dark and one light. In the four major North American sports leagues, one of the two uniforms is almost always mostly white, and each league except the NBA has a rule about which team should wear its white uniform. Customarily, the NFL and Nation...