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flak jacket

American  

noun

  1. U.S. Air Force. an armored garment made of steel plates covered by a padded fabric, designed to protect vital parts of the body from shrapnel.

  2. a protective vest, especially one that is bulletproof.


flak jacket British  

noun

  1. a reinforced sleeveless jacket for protection against gunfire or shrapnel worn by soldiers, policemen, etc

"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 flak jacket

First recorded in 1955–60

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:

Wine, who has been repeatedly arrested in the past, campaigned in a flak jacket, saying the race has become a "war".

From Barron's Jan. 12, 2026

While a U.S.-led coalition focused on airstrikes, several ground victories by Iraqi forces featured photographs of Soleimani leading them without a flak jacket.

From Seattle Times Jan. 3, 2024

Shortly before Abdallah was killed, he posted on Instagram a picture of himself wearing a helmet and a flak jacket with the word "press" written on it.

From BBC Nov. 7, 2023

Salem, still wearing a protective flak jacket, picked up his wife, Khawla, and drove in his armoured vehicle to Gaza City’s Al-Sahaba hospital.

From Reuters Oct. 12, 2023

The captain who greeted us was wearing a flak jacket, the heavy vest that was supposed to stop bullets and shrapnel.

From "Fallen Angels" by Walter Dean Myers

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