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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jacketlessadjective
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jacketlikeadjective
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unjacketedadjective
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underjacketnoun
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jacket-likeadjective
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jacketedadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has jacketedperfect 3rd person singular
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have jacketedperfect
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am jacketingprogressive 1st person singular
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have been jacketingperfect progressive
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are jacketingprogressive
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has been jacketingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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jacketingparticiple
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is jacketingprogressive 3rd person singular
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jacketssingular 3rd person
Past
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had jacketedperfect
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had been jacketingperfect progressive
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were jacketingprogressive plural
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was jacketingprogressive singular
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jacketedparticiple
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jacketedsimple
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.
Segun was last seen wearing a black jacket, black trousers and black trainers, and is believed to have links to Plumstead, Abbey Wood and Woolwich.
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
That was the phrase emblazoned on Mirra Andreeva's jacket as she lifted her first Grand Slam trophy at the French Open.
From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026
Two other books augment Ms. Crowther’s efforts to demythologize Monroe’s character and career, though one wouldn’t guess as much from their jacket art.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
Cameron Scalzo, wearing a vintage McDonald’s T-shirt from the ‘90s, and mom Kristine Nite Scalzo. 2. Cameron Scalzo rocks an Avirex jacket from the ‘90s.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026
When the last epaulet was sewn onto the sleeve, I buried the jacket, and I waited.
From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman
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.
