jacket
JAK-iht
Jacket (noun) means a garment for the upper body, worn over a shirt, usually reaching the waist or thigh. Example: “It was warm in the café, so I took off my jacket.”
noun
1
A garment for the upper body, worn over a shirt, usually reaching the waist or thigh.
"It was warm in the café, so I took off my jacket."
"She grabbed a jacket before heading out into the cold."
"He hung his jacket on the back of the chair."
2
A protective outer covering or casing wrapped around something, such as a hot water tank or the skin of a baked potato.
"The paperback came with a glossy paper jacket that showed the author's photograph."
"The pipes were fitted with an insulating jacket to stop heat loss."
"He scooped the filling out of the potato jacket."
verb
1
To enclose or wrap something in a protective covering.
"Before winter, the plumber jacketed the exposed pipes in the loft with foam."
"They jacket the wires in plastic so that nobody gets an electric shock."
"The cable is jacketed in thick rubber for protection."
How to use jacket
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA coat-like garment for the top half of the body, or by extension any protective outer covering.
Common pairings
put on a jacket
leather jacket
jacket potato
life jacket
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Word forms
- Plural
- jackets
- Third person singular
- jackets
- Past tense
- jacketed, jacketted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It was warm in the café, so I took off my _____.
Etymology
From Middle French jacquet, a diminutive of Old French jaque, an old term for a short coat.
Related words
Rhymes for jacket
See all rhymes for jacket →Frequently asked questions
What does “jacket” mean?
The word “jacket” means a garment for the upper body, worn over a shirt, usually reaching the waist or thigh. In plain terms, a coat-like garment for the top half of the body, or by extension any protective outer covering.
How do you pronounce “jacket”?
“Jacket” is pronounced JAK-iht (/ˈd͡ʒæk.ɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “jacket” in a sentence?
Here is “jacket” used in a sentence: “She grabbed a jacket before heading out into the cold.”
What part of speech is “jacket”?
Depending on how it is used, “jacket” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “jacket” come from?
The word “jacket” comes from Old French. From Middle French jacquet, a diminutive of Old French jaque, an old term for a short coat.
Is “jacket” a common word?
“Jacket” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “jacket” have?
“Jacket” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a garment for the upper body, worn over a shirt, usually reaching the waist or thigh.
What is the difference between a "jacket" and a "coat"?
A jacket is generally shorter, usually reaching the waist or thigh, and often lighter, while a coat is longer and typically heavier and warmer. You might wear a jacket indoors or in mild weather, but a coat is more for cold conditions.
What is the difference between a "jacket" and a "blazer"?
A blazer is a specific type of tailored jacket, often with buttons and a structured shape, worn for smart or semi-formal occasions. All blazers are jackets, but "jacket" covers many other styles, from denim to waterproof.
What is a "jacket potato"?
A jacket potato is a baked potato cooked and served in its skin, the skin being the "jacket." This uses the second sense of "jacket" as a protective outer covering wrapped around something.
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