So, the colloquial name for these garments seems to have elevated to “not-so-colloquial” in many circles, but I won’t have any of it; the term disgusts me. I have a need to refer to these articles of clothing on a regular basis, given the frequency with which these are worn, so I was wondering what is the most common legitimate term for these articles, in the U.S.?
Tank tops.
I for one have no idea at all what the OOP is asking about and hope someone can educate me.
Sleeveless undershirts. I’ve heard them just called “beaters,” too.
Those sleeveless undershirts that are made of ribbed cotton, and were once universally white. Since a few years ago, they’ve become something of a fashion item among some individuals (the present proportion of which, I’m sure, being a relatively-docile bunch 
) with the introduction of colors.
I guess the term “wife-beater” came about when more-than-a-few proponents of spousal abuse were spied wearing this particular garment when engaged in such?
Yup, they were formally known as tank tops, but tank tops have become a separate fashion item, made from different colors and the standard T-shirt knit weave. The “wife beater” tank top is a standard white cotton ribbed undershirt you often see with holes due to age, and beer stains due to the men who sit around the house wearing them, slugging bear, beating their wives and frequently appearing on episodes of Cops.
Like tighty-whities, they can look pretty hot on the right person, but on most people they look slovenly.
My mom always called them singlets. Is this strange?
That’s what we called them too. May be an Aussie language thing? Never heard them called that here in the states.
Over here in the UK they are tank tops, or if you’re of a slightly, umm, more mature generation, then they are singlets. I’ve never heard them being called wife-beaters here. Maybe I’m hopelessly out of touch.
I’ve always called them undershirts, and so did everyone else I know.
“sleeveless undershirt” or “tank top undershirt”.
Both a little clunky.
“Tank top” can really refer to any sleeveless shirt so it’s not very precise.
“Wife beater” works for me. I wear them, too. A lot. I love them.
The only place I’ve seen ‘undershirt’ is a Marks and Spencers.
Nah, my mom was educated in Indonesia, and I’m from Hong Kong.
According to an informal class survey, they’re called wifebeaters here in Sydney. Tank tops are what the girls wear.
You have to be a tough motherfucker to slug bears. Men who beat their wives aren’t tough.
Also: 
Well, in Singapore, those are singlets as well. Real helpful in a warm climate, I must say.
My dad wore them almost exclusively and in our house, they were undershirts. I seem to recall the package identifying them as “A” shirts, though.
Tank tops were a girls garment, not an undershirt.
The only thing I’ve ever heard called a singlet was the one piece suit we wore as wrestlers, like a leotard type thing.
So, singlet probably isn’t going to stick in the US, though it’s not a very common word, so maybe the wife-beater could adopt it.
Hey, watch it with the bear abuse! They’re advertised around here as “Ribbed Cotton Ts,” but called wife beaters or beaters. On the right type of man they are sexy as hell.
What’s the difference between a wifebeater and an A-shirt?
Sadly, the only other name I know for these is just about as unpleasant as “wife-beater” - we called 'em Dago Tees back in the day.
They are called “A” shirts on the package, but I don’t know of anyone who calls them that. Incidentally, the difference between these and tank tops is that tank tops, in the back, have straight-cut armholes. Wife-beaters are shaped in the back, similar to racer-back bathing suits and sports bras.
I call them “child-molesters”.