raincoat
Americannoun
-
raincoats
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of raincoat
Explanation
The waterproof jacket you throw on before heading out on a drizzly gray day is a raincoat. If you're traveling to India during monsoon season, be sure to pack your raincoat! Simply put, a raincoat is a coat that protects you from getting drenched in the rain. You might also call it a "slicker" or a "rain jacket." Some raincoats are truly waterproof, while others are merely water resistant — these will keep you dry for a while but are less useful if you're walking miles in a downpour. The original "modern" raincoat was invented in 1824 by a Scottish chemist who layered fabric and rubber to create a new waterproof material.
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.
See Examples For:
The Colombian American soulstress has played many roles in her songs: a baddie, a psychic, a woman adrift at sea in a yellow raincoat.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 18, 2025
You may want to check your local BBC Weather forecast to see if you should bring a raincoat or pack your suncream.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2025
Later, she danced with a yellow raincoat over her head.
From New York Times ● Mar. 18, 2024
Gaunt men and “children, big-eyed and thin,” walked up and clutched the rabbi’s raincoat.
From Slate ● Jan. 28, 2024
Our money was gone, and we weren’t any richer, except for the raincoat and bananas and bag of beads that Teashop Aunty had given us.
From "The Bridge Home" by Padma Venkatraman
Chinese authorities were sending additional disaster relief like food, raincoats and rubber boats to the region, state news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday.
From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026
It is found in a wide range of items, including medical devices, toys, shower curtains, and raincoats.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 17, 2026
Our second suggestion is to find ways to help put raincoats on those at whom the firehose of falsehood is being directed.
From Salon ● May 27, 2025
Burberry was founded in 1856 and has been making its famous raincoats in Yorkshire since 1972.
From BBC ● May 14, 2025
Members of our group, too, who had to spend the night, kept raincoats, hats, anything they had brought with them, in that room.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
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