life jacket

American  

noun

1. a sleeveless jacket of buoyant or inflatable construction, for supporting the wearer in deep water and preventing drowning.

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life jacket British  

noun

1. an inflatable sleeveless jacket worn to keep a person afloat when in danger of drowning

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Etymology

Origin of life jacket

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

The inner tubes, which are often given by people smugglers to migrants on Channel boats in place of life jackets, were then transported to several storage locations controlled by the gang in Germany.

From BBC

"The water is safe when there's a lifeguard and you have a life jacket on," he said.

From BBC

“Here you go,” Mom said, walking up to hand us each our own orange life jacket.

From Literature

That was when she remembered that she’d left her life jacket on the ship.

From Literature

“So we put on life jackets. That was the compromise.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• life preserver
• life vest