jacket
A1Neutral; common in everyday, fashion, culinary, and technical contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A short, lightweight coat for the upper body, often with sleeves and an opening down the front.
A protective or decorative outer covering for something, such as a book, a record, a potato, or an electrical wire.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Refers to both a garment and a protective outer layer for objects. The garment sense is primary and literal. Use for objects is metaphorical but standard.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Very minor. 'Dinner jacket' (UK) = 'tuxedo' (US). 'Puffer jacket' is common in both, but 'body warmer' (UK) is often a sleeveless version. 'Jacket potato' (UK) = 'baked potato' (US).
Connotations
In the UK, 'jacket' for clothing can sound slightly more formal or specific than 'coat'. In the US, 'jacket' is the default for lightweight, non-formal outerwear.
Frequency
Highly frequent in both. Slightly more common in US fashion discourse due to categories like 'denim jacket', 'bomber jacket'.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Put on a [jacket]Take off your [jacket]The [jacket] is made of leatherShe wore a [jacket] over her dressVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “More holes than a fisherman's jacket (very worn out)”
- “To be straitjacketed (restricted)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in 'dust jacket' for marketing a book.
Academic
Used in descriptions of historical costume or material culture.
Everyday
Extremely common for clothing and food ('jacket potato').
Technical
Common in engineering ('cable jacket'), publishing ('book jacket'), and food prep.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- He hung his waxed jacket in the porch.
- For lunch, I'll have a cheese and bean jacket.
American English
- She threw on a light jacket before heading out.
- The insulation is protected by a plastic jacket.
verb
British English
- The pipes must be jacketed in insulation to prevent freezing.
- They plan to jacket the old wiring for safety.
American English
- The new edition will be jacketed in a glossy cover.
- The process involves jacketing the core with a polymer.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This is my blue jacket.
- It's cold. Wear your jacket.
- I need a waterproof jacket for hiking.
- He took off his jacket and hung it on the chair.
- The biography's jacket featured a glowing review from a famous author.
- A protective thermoplastic jacket surrounds the main cable.
- The policy was merely a thin jacket for their discriminatory practices.
- The musician's rebellious image was carefully jacketed in mainstream appeal for the new album.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a JACK putting on a short coat – a JACK-et.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROTECTION IS A COVERING / CONTAINER. An idea can have a 'jacket' of respectability. Data can be 'jacketed' in encryption.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Common Mistakes
- Using 'coat' for all jackets (a coat is typically longer/heavier). *'I wear a jacket for very cold weather' (use 'coat' or 'parka'). Confusing 'jacket' (garment) with 'jack' (tool or car lifter).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'jacket' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, a blazer is a specific type of formal jacket, often with metal buttons, worn as part of smart or uniform dress.
Generally, a jacket is hip-length or shorter and often lighter. A coat is typically longer (thigh to ankle) and designed for colder weather.
Yes, though less common. It means to cover or surround something with a protective layer (e.g., 'jacketed wires').
A life jacket is a buoyancy aid designed to keep a person's head above water in an emergency. It is not typical clothing.
Collections
Part of a collection
Colors and Clothes
A1 · 45 words · Colors and common items of clothing.