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Showing results for raincoat. Search instead for Rain+Coat.
Synonyms

raincoat

American  
[rayn-koht] / ˈreɪnˌkoʊt /

noun

  • raincoats
    plural
  1. a waterproof or water-repellent coat worn as protection against rain.


raincoat British  
/ ˈreɪnˌkəʊt /

noun

  1. a coat made of a waterproof material

"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 raincoat

An Americanism dating back to 1820–30; rain + coat


Explanation

The waterproof jacket you throw on before heading out on a drizzly gray day is a raincoat. If you're traveling to India during monsoon season, be sure to pack your raincoat! Simply put, a raincoat is a coat that protects you from getting drenched in the rain. You might also call it a "slicker" or a "rain jacket." Some raincoats are truly waterproof, while others are merely water resistant — these will keep you dry for a while but are less useful if you're walking miles in a downpour. The original "modern" raincoat was invented in 1824 by a Scottish chemist who layered fabric and rubber to create a new waterproof material.

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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:

There may be just a chance of some light rain or drizzle for fans as they leave the ground - so you might want to take your raincoat!

From BBC ● Mar. 19, 2024

Later, she danced with a yellow raincoat over her head.

From New York Times ● Mar. 18, 2024

Gaunt men and “children, big-eyed and thin,” walked up and clutched the rabbi’s raincoat.

From Slate ● Jan. 28, 2024

Miner recommends a waterproof outer layer, like a raincoat, to keep the lower layers dry.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 19, 2024

On Sundays I used to walk to the garage and disguise myself in helmet, goggles, old raincoat and rubber waders and ride all over Derbyshire.

From "Boy: Tales of a Childhood" by Roald Dahl

Chinese authorities were sending additional disaster relief like food, raincoats and rubber boats to the region, state news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday.

From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026

It is found in a wide range of items, including medical devices, toys, shower curtains, and raincoats.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 17, 2026

Our second suggestion is to find ways to help put raincoats on those at whom the firehose of falsehood is being directed.

From Salon ● May 27, 2025

Burberry was founded in 1856 and has been making its famous raincoats in Yorkshire since 1972.

From BBC ● May 14, 2025

Members of our group, too, who had to spend the night, kept raincoats, hats, anything they had brought with them, in that room.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

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