single-breasted

American  

[sing-guhl-bres-tid] / ˈsɪŋ gəlˈbrɛs tɪd /

adjective

1. (of a coat, jacket, etc.) having a front closure directly in the center with only a narrow overlap secured by a single button or row of buttons.

2. (of a suit) having a jacket or coat of this type.

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single-breasted British  

adjective

1. (of a garment) having the fronts overlapping only slightly and with one row of fastenings

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Etymology

Origin of single-breasted

First recorded in 1790–1800

Compare meaning

How does single-breasted compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• double-breasted vs. single-breasted

Example Sentences

He was a Black man in a hand-tailored, single-breasted suit, which wasn’t just a fashion statement.

From Washington Post • Oct. 18, 2021

Sometimes he’ll be clad in a double-breasted, peak-lapel, pinstripe suit; other times, he’s wearing a three-piece, single-breasted number.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 6, 2018

Using the best local tailors, he got the band into single-breasted, three-button mohair suits, with narrow labels and even narrower pants, according to Mark Lewisohn in his book on the band, “Tune In.”

From New York Times • Oct. 17, 2017

Here we have a single-breasted blazer that does not strike me as a significant update.

From Slate • Aug. 5, 2016

He bought himself a brand-new single-breasted suit of brown worsted for this occasion, with a matching brown vest and a brown and yellow- flowered silk tie.

From "Farewell to Manzanar" by Jeanne Houston