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Synonyms

trench coat

American  

noun

  1. a waterproof overcoat styled along military lines, belted, with straps on the shoulders and lower sleeves.

trench coat British  

noun

  1. a belted double-breasted waterproof coat of gabardine, etc, resembling a military officer's coat

"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 trench coat

First recorded in 1915–20

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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.

However, let me whip out my beige trench coat and magnifying glass as I tell you: My investigation did uncover some interesting questions about the origins of this salmon.

From Salon • Feb. 28, 2026

Chances are you’ve seen Snoopy dressed as Doggy Pawsbourne on your Instagram or TikTok feed, complete with Ozzy’s signature round sunglasses, long hair and trench coat, punctuating the Prince of Barkness’ “Crazy Train” entrance.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026

He showed up outside James’s Brooklyn home in a trench coat resembling that of TV police lieutenant Columbo and posed for photos that appeared in the media.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 2, 2026

Playfully lifting the corner of her long trench coat, Yeromina showed how she had layered up to stay warm.

From Barron's • Jan. 28, 2026

He is wearing a trench coat and a pair of horn-rimmed glasses and is holding a manila folder full of official-looking papers.

From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.