raincoat

American  

[reyn-koht] / ˈreɪnˌkoʊt /

noun

1. a waterproof or water-repellent coat worn as protection against rain.

---

raincoat British  

/ ˈreɪnˌkəʊt /

noun

1. a coat made of a waterproof material

---

Etymology

Origin of raincoat

An Americanism dating back to 1820–30; rain + coat

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

Distinct from many of the other items which will be displayed, is a clear plastic raincoat from the 1960s.

From BBC • Dec. 26, 2025

Davidsen starts this “Salome” in a back room of the brutalist set where Herod’s orgy is taking place, wearing a white raincoat, her black hair stringy in a Goth look.

From Seattle Times • May 13, 2024

Gaunt men and “children, big-eyed and thin,” walked up and clutched the rabbi’s raincoat.

From Slate • Jan. 28, 2024

Nyswaner, who was dressed in all black save for a tan raincoat, claims to dislike love stories.

From New York Times • Oct. 23, 2023

I found Uncle Maury’s raincoat and put it around her and picked her up and went back to the lane and got in the hack.

From "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner

Related Words

• overcoat
• slicker
• trench coat