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Synonyms

raincoat

American  
[reyn-koht] / ˈreɪnˌkoʊt /

noun

  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

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.

The music industry is perfectly able to adapt, he reckons, and his own label Blue Raincoat Music, which bought Chrysalis Records, will work with AI and the opportunities it brings.

From BBC • Jul. 4, 2023

"In most cases, there is zero adaptation spend," said CEO Jonathan Gonzales of parametric start-up Raincoat, which has deployed five projects in Colombia, Mexico, Jamaica and Puerto Rico.

From Reuters • May 19, 2023

This is how Shiv, Kendall and Rome end up watching Connor bleat a forlorn cover of Marissa Nadler's "Famous Blue Raincoat" as Logan descends from on high to invade their musical bunker.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2023

I’d put out Famous Blue Raincoat, an album of Leonard Cohen covers, just a year prior and it couldn’t have been more dense, poetic, symphonic, full of triple meanings.

From The Guardian • Apr. 9, 2019

"Hello, Abe!" cried a hearty voice, and Abe turned to view the perspiring features of Max Koblin, the Raincoat King.

From Abe and Mawruss Being Further Adventures of Potash and Perlmutter by Glass, Montague