jacket

American  

[jak-it] / ˈdʒæk ɪt /

noun

1. a short coat, in any of various forms, usually opening down the front.

2. something designed to be placed around the upper part of the body for a specific purpose other than use as clothing.

   a life jacket.

3. a protective outer covering.

4. the skin of a potato, especially when it has been cooked.

5. book jacket.

6. the cover of a paperbound book, usually bearing an illustration.

7. a paper or cardboard envelope for protecting a phonograph record.

8. a metal casing, as the steel covering of a cannon, the steel cover around the core of a bullet, or the water jacket on certain types of machine guns.

9. a folded paper or open envelope containing an official document.

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verb (used with object)

1. to put a jacket on (someone or something).

jacket British  

/ ˈdʒækɪt /

noun

1. a short coat, esp one that is hip-length and has a front opening and sleeves

2. something that resembles this or is designed to be worn around the upper part of the body

   a life jacket

3. any exterior covering or casing, such as the insulating cover of a boiler

4. the part of the cylinder block of an internal-combustion engine that encloses the coolant

5. See dust jacket

6. 1. the skin of a baked potato

   2. ( as modifier )

      jacket potatoes

7. a metal casing used in certain types of ammunition

8. Brit name: sleeve.  a cover to protect a gramophone record

9. a folder or envelope to hold documents

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verb

1. (tr) to put a jacket on (someone or something)

Other Word Forms

• jacket-like
  adjective
• jacketed
  adjective
• jacketless
  adjective
• jacketlike
  adjective
• underjacket
  noun
• unjacketed
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of jacket

1425–75; late Middle English jaket < Middle French ja ( c ) quet, equivalent to jaque jack ⁴ + -et -et

Explanation

A jacket is a lightweight or cropped coat. Most jackets end at your waist or hips, while coats can be much longer. If you have outerwear made of denim or leather, feel free to call them jackets. Jackets are generally long-sleeved and fasten with zippers, snaps, or buttons down the front. Other meanings of jacket generally include the sense of "outer covering," like a book jacket or the insulating jacket around your house's pipes. The word comes from the Middle French jaquet, "short coat with sleeves," from the Old French jacque, "tunic."

Example Sentences

During opening statements, the prosecutor said the child at some point moved the firearm into an oversize jacket he was wearing on the playground and in the classroom.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

You speak to dozens of people – one saw the getaway car, another noticed the robber’s jacket.

From Science Daily • May 21, 2026

He’s wearing a gold sequin jacket over a fresh-pressed polka-dot shirt, fuchsia bell-bottoms and yellow trucker’s hat with an Appalachian-style beard.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

The force said he was wearing blue jeans and a dark green jacket with a white stripe on both sleeves.

From BBC • May 18, 2026

Sam put his Show-and-Tell surprise into the pocket of his jacket.

From "All About Sam" by Lois Lowry

Related Words

• coat
• fur
• parka
• sheath
• tunic