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Synonyms

topcoat

American  
[top-koht] / ˈtɒpˌkoʊt /

noun

  1. a lightweight overcoat.

  2. the coat of paint applied last to a surface.


verb (used with object)

  1. to apply the topcoat to (a surface).

topcoat British  
/ ˈtɒpˌkəʊt /

noun

  1. an outdoor coat worn over a suit, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of topcoat

First recorded in 1810–20; top 1 + coat


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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:

That she’s female, black and seems half hidden inside her ever-present navy topcoat is made less of this time around.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

Some on Reddit fixed this by sanding theirs down to take the shine off of the finish, and another recommended using an acrylic topcoat and another chemical bluing.

From The Verge ● Mar. 9, 2022

Cobbling together a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle while in lockdown comes to mind, as does doing your nails — basecoat, color, topcoat.

From New York Times ● Aug. 3, 2021

If the paint isn’t self-priming, do the touch-up in two steps: primer, then topcoat.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 2, 2021

Maybe, I thought, as I saw him hunched behind the wheel in his topcoat, this is what I've been waiting for.

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison

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