jacket
Americannoun
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a short coat, in any of various forms, usually opening down the front.
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something designed to be placed around the upper part of the body for a specific purpose other than use as clothing.
a life jacket.
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a protective outer covering.
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the skin of a potato, especially when it has been cooked.
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the cover of a paperbound book, usually bearing an illustration.
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a paper or cardboard envelope for protecting a phonograph record.
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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.
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a folded paper or open envelope containing an official document.
verb (used with object)
noun
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a short coat, esp one that is hip-length and has a front opening and sleeves
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something that resembles this or is designed to be worn around the upper part of the body
a life jacket
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any exterior covering or casing, such as the insulating cover of a boiler
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the part of the cylinder block of an internal-combustion engine that encloses the coolant
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See dust jacket
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the skin of a baked potato
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( as modifier )
jacket potatoes
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a metal casing used in certain types of ammunition
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Brit name: sleeve. a cover to protect a gramophone record
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a folder or envelope to hold documents
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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underjacketnoun
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jacket-likeadjective
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jacketedadjective
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jacketlessadjective
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jacketlikeadjective
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unjacketedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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jacketsimple
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jacketssimple
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have jacketedperfect
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has jacketedperfect
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am jacketingprogressive
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are jacketingprogressive
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is jacketingprogressive
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have been jacketingperfect progressive
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has been jacketingperfect progressive
Past
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jacketedsimple
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had jacketedperfect
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was jacketingprogressive
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were jacketingprogressive
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had been jacketingperfect progressive
Future
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
With the tunes blaring and while wearing his wife's jacket, Wilton has England's players charging around and taking high catches under the lights.
From BBC • Jul. 3, 2026
The book’s dust jacket is scarce with Mr. Moore’s résumé.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026
During his post-draft television interview, he displayed a custom design inside his suit jacket: Mexico’s tricolor flag.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2026
Floating weightless in the stars, her hair unbrushed and bathrobe-like jacket shrugged on, she makes the impossible look casual.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2026
Sam decided, as he was putting on his jacket for the playground, that when he got home he would have a serious talk with his mom and daddy and Anastasia, too, about safety and health.
From "All About Sam" by Lois Lowry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
