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Synonyms

overcoat

American  
[oh-ver-koht, oh-ver-koht, oh-ver-koht] / ˈoʊ vərˌkoʊt, ˌoʊ vərˈkoʊt, ˈoʊ vərˌkoʊt /

noun

  • overcoats
    plural
  1. a coat worn over the ordinary indoor clothing, as in cold weather.

  2. Also called overcoating. an added coating, as of paint, applied for protection.


verb (used with object)

  1. to apply an additional coat of paint to (a surface).

overcoat British  
/ ˈəʊvəˌkəʊt /

noun

  1. a warm heavy coat worn over the outer clothes in cold weather

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of overcoat

First recorded in 1795–1805; over- + coat


Compare meaning

How does overcoat compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

He had slipped them into specially fitted, bottle-size pockets sewn into his overcoat.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 31, 2026

Trump, wearing a black overcoat, saluted as flag-draped coffins were removed from the back of a transport plane, according to photographs released by the White House said.

From Barron's ● Mar. 18, 2026

Suddenly, a tall, lithe woman in a long overcoat stood up and made her way to the stage.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 26, 2026

This year's unofficial fashion prize goes to Teyana Taylor and her shimmering black overcoat.

From BBC ● Feb. 11, 2026

While five-year-old Joseph carefully inscribed his name on a line, a middle-aged man in a worn overcoat and swathed in a bright red scarf approached them.

From "The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street" by Karina Yan Glaser

One hot day two vanloads of men, having shucked their black overcoats, ask at the pro shop if they can rent carts to drive around the course.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026

As usual, UK heritage was evident in the oversized checked overcoats in muted autumnal shades, alongside punk tailoring and some very interesting headwear.

From BBC ● Mar. 10, 2026

Then, 50 men identically dressed in truncated gray suits and khaki overcoats entered in rows and, cued by the ringing of a taskmaster’s bell, performed workaday activities like typing and eating lunch.

From New York Times ● Apr. 15, 2024

Unquestioned leaders and servile followers tell us why the German army marched into Russia without overcoats — the leader had decreed that the campaign would be victorious by autumn, and that was that.

From Salon ● Feb. 4, 2024

Many of the citizens gathered there wore overcoats, shoe rubbers, and woolen scarfs, having elected not to leave these things in the cloakroom: there’d been a rush to find a place to sit.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson

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