An online poll has once and for all settled what word to use for swimwear.

Debate has raged in Oz for years — are they cossies, togs, swimmers or bathers?

3,500 Aussies cast their votes and the preferred word (with 38 per cent support nationwide) is bathers!

28 per cent said togs, 19 per cent said swimmers and 14 per cent said cossies.

State-by-state, bathers was the clear winner in Vic (70 per cent), WA (74 per cent), Tas (66 per cent) and SA (84 per cent!).