all-weather: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical/Descriptive, also used figuratively in business/media contexts.
Quick answer
What does “all-weather” mean?
designed to withstand or perform well in all types of weather conditions.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
designed to withstand or perform well in all types of weather conditions.
a. (Of materials, equipment, clothing) capable of functioning reliably in sun, rain, wind, snow, etc. b. (Figuratively, of systems, partnerships, plans) durable, resilient, and reliable under a wide range of changing or adverse circumstances.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. Slightly more frequent in UK English in sporting contexts (e.g., all-weather pitch).
Connotations
Positive connotations of durability and practicality in both varieties. In UK, strongly associated with artificial sports surfaces.
Frequency
Moderately low frequency in both, but understood by educated speakers. More common in technical/sporting domains.
Grammar
How to Use “all-weather” in a Sentence
[all-weather] + noun (adjective-noun compound)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “all-weather” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The club installed a new all-weather pitch for year-round play.
- Her all-weather coat proved essential during the Scottish holiday.
American English
- All-weather tires are a wise investment for the Midwest.
- They built an all-weather sports complex for the community.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Describes resilient investment strategies or reliable partnerships: 'They sought an all-weather portfolio.'
Academic
Used in engineering, materials science, and sports science: 'The study evaluated all-weather pavement composites.'
Everyday
Common for clothing, car accessories, and sports facilities: 'I need all-weather boots for hiking.'
Technical
Precise specifications for materials or equipment (e.g., ASTM all-weather standards).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “all-weather”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “all-weather”
- Using as a predicate adjective (*'These shoes are all-weather'), using hyphen incorrectly ('allweather' or 'all weather' as adjective).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is almost exclusively used as a pre-modifying adjective before a noun (e.g., an all-weather coat). Using it predicatively sounds unnatural.
'All-weather' emphasizes suitability for active use in all conditions (e.g., sports, driving), while 'weatherproof' emphasizes protection against weather damage (e.g., for electronics, buildings).
It is moderately common within specific domains like automotive, sports, and outdoor clothing. It is less frequent in general everyday conversation.
It is a compound adjective formed from 'all' + 'weather'. The hyphen links the words to show they function as a single idea modifying a noun (e.g., all-weather facility).
designed to withstand or perform well in all types of weather conditions.
All-weather is usually technical/descriptive, also used figuratively in business/media contexts. in register.
All-weather: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɔːl ˈweðə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɔːl ˈweðər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “fair-weather friend (antithetical concept)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an UMBRELLA that also blocks sun and wind – it works in ALL WEATHER.
Conceptual Metaphor
RELIABILITY IS WEATHER-RESISTANCE (e.g., 'an all-weather friendship' metaphorically extends physical durability to emotional constancy).
Practice
Quiz
In a figurative sense, an 'all-weather friend' is one who: