bomber jacket: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium-HighInformal
Quick answer
What does “bomber jacket” mean?
A short, zipped jacket, often made of leather or nylon, originally designed for military pilots, typically featuring a ribbed collar, cuffs, and waistband.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A short, zipped jacket, often made of leather or nylon, originally designed for military pilots, typically featuring a ribbed collar, cuffs, and waistband.
A casual fashion item characterized by its rugged, utilitarian origins, now a staple in streetwear and various subcultures.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. In the UK, 'flight jacket' is a slightly more formal synonym; in the US, 'bomber' is the overwhelmingly dominant term for this style.
Connotations
Both share connotations of 1950s/1960s rebel culture (e.g., greasers, mods) and military heritage. In modern fashion, it's a unisex item.
Frequency
"Bomber jacket" is significantly more frequent in American English. British English may occasionally use "flight jacket" in more technical or historical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “bomber jacket” in a Sentence
VERB + bomber jacket: wear, zip up, unzip, buy, designADJECTIVE + bomber jacket: leather, vintage, classic, reversible, oversizedVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bomber jacket” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He has a very bomber-jacket style about him.
American English
- The store's aesthetic is very bomber-jacket chic.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in retail/fashion industry contexts (e.g., 'Our spring line features a suede bomber jacket.').
Academic
Rare. Might appear in historical, cultural, or design studies discussing 20th-century fashion or military history.
Everyday
Common when discussing casual clothing, weather-appropriate wear, or personal style.
Technical
Used in fashion design, textile, and manufacturing specifications.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bomber jacket”
- Calling any short jacket a 'bomber' (it must have the specific ribbed trim and usually a front zip).
- Spelling as 'bombar jacket'.
- Using it to refer to a person (a 'bomber' is a terrorist or athlete in certain sports).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Very similar and often used interchangeably. Technically, 'flight jacket' is the broader category, while 'bomber jacket' often specifically refers to the A-2 or G-1 styles with a defined waistband.
Absolutely. The bomber jacket is a popular unisex fashion item and has been widely adopted in women's fashion for decades.
Historically, leather (like goatskin or horsehide) or heavy-duty nylon (like the MA-1 model). Modern versions can be made from suede, cotton, polyester, and various blends.
It was originally designed and issued to aircraft crews, particularly those in bomber planes, during World War I and II for warmth and functionality at high altitudes.
A short, zipped jacket, often made of leather or nylon, originally designed for military pilots, typically featuring a ribbed collar, cuffs, and waistband.
Bomber jacket is usually informal in register.
Bomber jacket: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɒm.ə ˌdʒæk.ɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɑː.mɚ ˌdʒæk.ɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated. Conceptually linked to 'top gun' style or 'greaser' look.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BOMBER plane — the pilots wore these short, tough JACKETs to stay warm in the cockpit.
Conceptual Metaphor
UTILITY TURNED STYLE: A garment designed for a specific, tough function (military aviation) becomes a symbol of casual cool and rebellion.
Practice
Quiz
Which feature is NOT typically characteristic of a classic bomber jacket?