sˈɪns ðɪ ˈɜːli nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛnti z, ðɪ ɐmˈɛɹɪkən mˈɑːɹkɪt hɐz jˈuːzd ðə tˈɜːm "bɹˈɔːdklɔθ" tə dᵻskɹˈaɪb ɐ plˈeɪnwˈoʊvən, jˈuːʒuːəli mˈɜːsɚɹˌaɪzd fˈæbɹɪk wˈoʊvən wɪð ɐ ɹˈɪb ænd ɐ slˈaɪtli hˈɛviɚ fˈɪlɪŋ jˈɑːɹn, jˈuːzd fɔːɹ ʃˈɜːtmˈeɪkɪŋ, mˌeɪd fɹʌm kˈɑːʔn̩ ɔːɹ ɐ pˌɑːlɪˈɛstɚɹændkˈɑːʔn̩ blˈɛnd.
Since the early 1920s, the American market has used the term "broadcloth" to describe a plain-woven, usually mercerised fabric woven with a rib and a slightly heavier filling yarn, used for shirt-making, made from cotton or a polyester-and-cotton blend.