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.

---

single-breasted British  

adjective

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

---

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

A single-breasted safari jacket with short or long sleeves and patch pockets — often worn with matching pants — it was initially made popular in the 1960s by Kenneth Kaunda, the first post-colonial president of Zambia.

From New York Times

A man would come into the store looking forgettable and then, after donning a well-cut two-button, single-breasted navy suit with a peak lapel, he would look accomplished, adept.

From New York Times

A woman emerged in a single-breasted black jacket over a bulbous skirt with the midsection cut out to reveal innards of rough-edged gray-flecked insulation material that swayed as she walked.

From New York Times

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

From Washington Post

John Kennedy distinguished himself from the generation that came before by opting for single-breasted suits instead of the more formal double-breasted styles favored by Roosevelt and Truman.

From New York Times