Fabric marketing terms show up constantly in product descriptions, sometimes accurately and sometimes loosely applied, which makes it worth understanding what a few of the most common ones actually technically mean before using them in your own listings.
Moisture-wicking
This refers to a fabric's ability to actively pull sweat away from skin toward the outer surface of the garment, where it can evaporate more quickly, rather than absorbing and holding moisture the way plain cotton does. This is a genuine, measurable property, typically associated with synthetic or synthetic-blend performance fabrics (polyester blends, specifically engineered athletic materials) rather than 100% cotton, which by its natural fiber structure tends to absorb rather than wick moisture. Claiming "moisture-wicking" on a standard cotton product is technically inaccurate and worth avoiding in your own listings if your base garment is plain cotton.
Breathable
This is a somewhat looser, less strictly defined term, generally referring to how well a fabric allows air circulation, which affects how hot or stuffy a garment feels during wear. Lighter weight fabrics and looser weaves tend to be more breathable, and this claim is reasonably applicable to a broader range of fabrics than the more specific "moisture-wicking" claim, though it's still worth being genuinely accurate about relative to your actual fabric weight and blend.
Pre-shrunk
This means the fabric has already gone through a shrinking process during manufacturing, before being cut and sewn into a garment, specifically to minimize further shrinkage during a customer's normal washing. It doesn't mean zero shrinkage will ever occur, just that it's meaningfully reduced compared to fabric that skipped this process — worth being clear about in your own care instructions rather than implying zero shrinkage risk at all.
Why accuracy here matters beyond just honesty
Beyond the basic principle of not misleading customers, inaccurate fabric claims are a fairly direct path to negative reviews and returns — a customer who bought a shirt specifically because it claimed to be moisture-wicking for workout use, only to find it's plain cotton that absorbs sweat normally, has a legitimate, specific complaint that a vague "it's just marketing language" defense won't resolve well. Checking your actual base garment's real material composition against whatever claims you're making in your listing is worth the few minutes it takes, specifically to avoid this entirely avoidable category of complaint.