noun
vest
vehst
noun
1
A sleeveless piece of clothing worn over a shirt, often as part of a suit (called a "waistcoat" in British English).
"He wore a three-piece suit with a matching vest."
2
A sleeveless undergarment worn beneath a shirt.
"He layered a vest under his jumper to stay warm."
verb
1
To officially give someone a right or power, or to have that right or power become legally theirs.
"Full ownership of the shares vests after four years with the company."
"The court vested custody of the children in their grandmother."
How to Use Vest
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA sleeveless piece of clothing; in a legal or financial sense, to formally grant or confirm a right.
UK vs US
In British English, "vest" usually means an undershirt, while the outer sleeveless suit garment is a "waistcoat"; in American English, "vest" covers both.
Common pairings
stock options vest
a life vest
a bulletproof vest
Word Forms
vested past tense, vests plural, Vests plural, vests singular
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Etymology
From French veste, from Latin vestis, "garment, clothing", ultimately from a root meaning "to be dressed" — related to the everyday word "wear".