jacket

jacket — noun

1. a short garment that people wear over a shirt or blouse, with sleeves and a fron

1.nounA1
Definition

a short garment that people wear over a shirt or blouse, with sleeves and a front opening, to keep warm or to complete an outfit

Example

Putri wore a warm jacket to school because it was cold outside.

collocation: wear + jacket for warmth

The red jacket on the hook belongs to my elder brother.

Common collocations
  • wear a jacket
  • take off a jacket
  • put on a jacket
  • leather jacket
  • denim jacket
  • jacket pocket
Synonyms
  • coat

    longer and heavier than a jacket, often reaching below the hips; worn for more severe cold weather

  • blazer

    a smart jacket worn as part of a uniform or formal outfit, usually matching trousers or a skirt

  • cardigan

    a knitted jacket with an open front, made of wool or cotton and worn like a sweater

Common Mistakes

I put on my coat because it was chilly.
I put on my jacket because it was chilly.
A coat is longer and heavier than a jacket; use 'jacket' for waist-length outdoor tops and 'coat' for longer, heavier ones that reach the thighs or knees.

2. a removable paper or plastic cover that wraps around a book to protect it and of

2.nounB1
Definition

a removable paper or plastic cover that wraps around a book to protect it and often shows the title, the writer's name, and a picture

Example

The dust jacket of this novel has a beautiful painting on it.

collocation: dust jacket

Diya kept the jacket on her textbook to keep it clean.

Common collocations
  • dust jacket
  • book jacket
  • jacket design
  • jacket illustration
  • remove the jacket
Synonyms
  • dust jacket

    the exact term for a removable paper cover on a hardback book

  • dust cover

    less common alternative for dust jacket

Usage Note

Often called a 'dust jacket' or 'dust cover'. The jacket is not part of the book itself — it is a separate wrapper that can be taken off.

Common Mistakes

I tore the book cover while carrying it in my bag.
I tore the book jacket while carrying it in my bag.
Use 'book cover' for the hard or soft outer binding of the book itself; 'jacket' or 'dust jacket' refers to the removable paper wrapper.

3. an outer layer or casing that wraps around an object, such as a pipe, wire, or r

3.nounB2
Definition

an outer layer or casing that wraps around an object, such as a pipe, wire, or record, to protect it or to keep heat or electricity inside

Example

The rubber jacket around the wire keeps the electricity from escaping.

collocation: rubber jacket / plastic jacket

Tamás pulled the record from its cardboard jacket and put it on the turntable.

Common collocations
  • rubber jacket
  • cable jacket
  • pipe jacket
  • record jacket
  • foam jacket
  • cardboard jacket
Synonyms
  • casing

    a hard outer covering that completely encloses something, often made of metal or strong plastic

  • sheath

    a close-fitting protective cover, especially for a blade or cable

Usage Note

In technical contexts, this sense often appears as part of a compound: 'pipe jacket', 'cable jacket', 'record jacket'. The material is usually mentioned (rubber, plastic, foam, cardboard).

4. the brown outer layer that covers a potato, especially when it has been baked an

4.nounB1
Definition

the brown outer layer that covers a potato, especially when it has been baked and the surface becomes crunchy or firm

Example

Salma ate the whole baked potato, including the crispy jacket.

British English: jacket = potato skin

Jacket potatoes are a popular dish served with butter and cheese.

collocation: jacket potato

Common collocations
  • jacket potato
  • crispy jacket
  • baked jacket
  • eat the jacket
Synonyms
  • skin

    general term for the outer layer of a potato; 'jacket' is specifically the skin of a baked potato

  • peel

    the skin of a potato that has been removed, usually before cooking

Usage Note

This sense is most common in British English. The phrase 'jacket potato' (a baked potato served with the skin on) is a set expression in the UK, far more common than using 'jacket' alone to mean potato skin.

jacket — verb

Word family

  • jacketed
    adjectiveB2
  • unjacketed
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Jacket, coat, and blazer are all upper-body garments worn over other clothes, but they differ in length, warmth, and formality. A jacket is waist-length or hip-length, relatively lightweight, and can be casual (denim, leather) or part of a suit. A coat is longer — reaching the thighs, knees, or below — and is made of thicker material for cold weather (e.g. a winter coat or raincoat). A blazer is a type of smart jacket, usually in a solid colour with metal buttons, worn as part of a uniform or a semi-formal outfit. For example: 'Putri wore a denim jacket to the party', 'Diego put on his heavy winter coat before going out in the snow', and 'Jason wore a navy blazer and grey trousers to the interview'.

jacket ↗coat ↗blazer ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • jacket pocket
  • jacket sleeve
  • jacket button
  • jacket potato

Prepositions

  • in a jacket
  • with a jacket
  • without a jacket

Etymology

Old FrenchMiddle FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'jacket' entered English in the 1300s from Old French 'jaquette', which was the diminutive form of 'jaque' — a short, close-fitting tunic worn by peasants and soldiers in the Middle Ages. 'Jaque' itself may have come from the name 'Jacques', a French nickname for a peasant (from the peasant revolt known as the Jacquerie). Over time the word shifted from describing a simple tunic to the many kinds of short outer garments and protective covers we know today.