jacket

American  

[jak-it] / ˈdʒæk ɪt /

noun

1. a short coat, in any of various forms, usually opening down the front.

2. something designed to be placed around the upper part of the body for a specific purpose other than use as clothing.

   a life jacket.

3. a protective outer covering.

4. the skin of a potato, especially when it has been cooked.

5. book jacket.

6. the cover of a paperbound book, usually bearing an illustration.

7. a paper or cardboard envelope for protecting a phonograph record.

8. 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.

9. a folded paper or open envelope containing an official document.

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verb (used with object)

1. to put a jacket on (someone or something).

jacket British  

/ ˈdʒækɪt /

noun

1. a short coat, esp one that is hip-length and has a front opening and sleeves

2. something that resembles this or is designed to be worn around the upper part of the body

   a life jacket

3. any exterior covering or casing, such as the insulating cover of a boiler

4. the part of the cylinder block of an internal-combustion engine that encloses the coolant

5. See dust jacket

6. 1. the skin of a baked potato

   2. ( as modifier )

      jacket potatoes

7. a metal casing used in certain types of ammunition

8. Brit name: sleeve.  a cover to protect a gramophone record

9. a folder or envelope to hold documents

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verb

1. (tr) to put a jacket on (someone or something)

Other Word Forms

• jacket-like adjective
• jacketed adjective
• jacketless adjective
• jacketlike adjective
• underjacket noun
• unjacketed adjective

Etymology

Origin of jacket

1425–75; late Middle English jaket < Middle French ja ( c ) quet, equivalent to jaque jack ⁴ + -et -et

Example Sentences

“I got it high enough to hit it about 110 yards over their heads to the left,” said Nicklaus, 86, who won his last green jacket 40 years ago.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

Cajun chicken pasta is essentially Alfredo in a leather jacket: fettuccine or penne, blackened or “blackened” chicken, a confetti of peppers and scallions, and a liberal snowfall of Cajun seasoning.

From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026

He doesn’t need another green jacket, another title, another trophy to add to his legendary collection.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

Angry, the 60-year-old cannot come to terms with the loss of her daughter Annalee, a little blonde girl in a cowboy hat whose smile lights up the pin attached to the lapel of her jacket.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

Nighthand was resplendent in a thick dark blue jacket.

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

Related Words

• coat
• fur
• parka
• sheath
• tunic