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Synonyms

life jacket

American  

noun

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

life jacket British  

noun

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

"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 life jacket

First recorded in 1865–70

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.

"He swam, he reckons, the first two hours with a life jacket on," Bresland told national broadcaster ABC.

From Barron's • Feb. 3, 2026

"The brave fella thought he's not going to make it with a life jacket on, so he ditched it, and he swam the next two hours without a life jacket."

From BBC • Feb. 2, 2026

State law requires those 12 and younger to wear a life jacket on a moving vessel.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 7, 2025

The authority added that it would set up a high-level investigation committee with the transport ministry and launch a "sustained lakeside safety enforcement operation" to ensure compliance with passenger limits and life jacket rules.

From Barron's • Oct. 12, 2025

But Henry is able to grab ahold of his life jacket and pull him back.

From "Shouting at the Rain" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

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.