blazer

American  

[bley-zer] / ˈbleɪ zər /

noun

1. something that blazes or shines brightly.

2. a sports jacket, usually a solid color or striped, having metal buttons and sometimes an insignia on the breast pocket, as one worn by a member of a club, school, or the like.

3. a small cooking apparatus using as its source of heat a spirit lamp, hot coals, etc., used especially for preparing food at the table or outdoors.

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blazer British  

/ ˈbleɪzə /

noun

1. a fairly lightweight jacket, often striped or in the colours of a sports club, school, etc

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Etymology

Origin of blazer

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at blaze ¹, -er ¹

Compare meaning

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

• blazer vs. trailblazer

Explanation

A blazer is a jacket that is not as formal as a suit coat, but more formal than a cardigan. If you specify a business casual dress code on your party invitation, many people will show up wearing blazers. Another name for a blazer is a sports jacket or sport coat. Traditionally, blazers are made of wool or linen. While they come in various colors, a navy blazer is classic. This item of clothing is considered to be a little bit dressy, but not formal like a suit, tuxedo, or evening gown. The word blazer was originally used in colloquial American English for "attention-attracting thing." In late 19th-century British university slang, it came to mean "bright red flannel jacket."

Example Sentences

The tool has a face and a name: Sky, an AI avatar that appears as a woman with short hair and a blazer in its first iteration.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

I imagine the A.I. bot like a child playing dress-up, donning an oversized blazer and glasses for a game of “businessman.”

From Slate • Mar. 20, 2026

Or maybe it was that the clowning that marked the career of Ron Luciano masked a deeper sadness that finally claimed the life of baseball’s happy warrior in a size-50 extralong dark blazer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

Pupils wear a blazer, shirt and tie, which "look really uncomfortable".

From BBC • Feb. 21, 2026

Stevie was a sweater, so he always took his blazer off in class to avoid becoming a washcloth—something to wring out.

From "Look Both Ways" by Jason Reynolds

Related Words

• coat
• jacket