waistcoat

American  

[wes-kuht, wayst-koht] / ˈwɛs kət, ˈweɪstˌkoʊt /

noun

• waistcoats
  plural

1. Chiefly British. vest.

2. an 18th-century garment for women that is similar to a man's vest, usually worn with a riding habit.

3. a man's body garment, often quilted and embroidered and having sleeves, worn under the doublet in the 16th and 17th centuries.

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waistcoat British  

/ ˈweɪsˌkəʊt /

noun

1. US, Canadian, and Austral name: vest. a sleeveless waist-length garment with buttons at the front, often worn under a suit jacket

2. a man's garment worn under a doublet in the 16th century

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• underwaistcoat
  noun
• waistcoated
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• waistcoats
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of waistcoat

First recorded in 1510–20; waist + coat

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Explanation

A waistcoat is a piece of clothing most often worn as part of a man's suit — it's the sleeveless garment you wear over a button-up shirt and under a suit jacket. A waistcoat is essentially the same thing as a formal vest. While you might throw on a warm vest to take your dog for a walk, you're more likely to wear a waistcoat if you're an usher in your cousin's wedding. The word dates from the 15th century, when a waistcoat was long-sleeved and worn under a man's doublet, a close-fitting jacket. As the name implies, unlike longer formal coats, waistcoats were cropped at the waist.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

waistcoat waistcoats

Piping on the waistcoat is “a kick” to stand out against judges in black.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 18, 2026

His red coat with black trim, red waistcoat with hand-stitched buttonholes and gold regimental buttons, and white breeches “represent the only complete uniform of the Revolutionary war.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 18, 2025

This outfit combined the designer's two famous patterns - the LV monogram pattern on the waistcoat and jacket, as well as the damier checkerboard on the shorts.

From BBC ● May 5, 2025

A beige T-shirt and waistcoat ensemble looked red carpet-ready with its chicly pleated, arrow-thin assorted tie.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 20, 2024

Uncle Al strides toward us in red waistcoat and top hat, his plaid-swaddled legs swallowing the ground.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

However, one independent fashion house in Croydon has become the home of West End and on-screen fashion, from the waistcoats and dresses in Hamilton to the costumes for Wicked's Shiz dancers.

From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2025

Intricately embroidered custom waistcoats signify wealth, highlighting Stanton’s mood and allegiance through shades of blue: “There is a bit of a peacock aspect just in being very proud of what he and Lincoln have accomplished.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2024

But some have worn waistcoats with the symbol of Black History Month underneath.

From New York Times ● Jul. 6, 2023

At Fendi, designer Kim Jones added pleated skirt aprons and trains to tailored trouser suits as well as shoulder-baring sleeves to waistcoats.

From Reuters ● Feb. 22, 2023

By 1850, there are photographs of doctors, showing wise faces, satin waistcoats, and whiskers.

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman

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