jacket

1 of 2

noun

jack·​et ˈja-kət 

1

a

: a garment for the upper body usually having a front opening, collar, lapels, sleeves, and pockets

b

: something worn or fastened around the body but not for use as clothing

2

a(1)

: the natural covering of an animal

(2)

: the fur or wool of a mammal

b

: the skin of a potato

3

: an outer covering or casing: such as

a(1)

: a thermally nonconducting cover

(2)

: a covering that encloses an intermediate space through which a temperature-controlling fluid circulates

(3)

: a tough cold-worked metal casing that forms the outer shell of a built-up bullet

b(1)

: a wrapper or open envelope for a document

(2)

: an envelope for enclosing registered mail during delivery from one post office to another

c(1)

: a detachable protective cover for a book

(2)

: a paper or cardboard envelope for a phonograph record

jacketless

ˈja-kət-ləs 

adjective

jacket

2 of 2

verb

jacketed; jacketing; jackets

transitive verb

: to put a jacket on : enclose in or with a jacket

Synonyms

Noun

• armor
• capsule
• case
• casing
• cocoon
• cover
• covering
• encasement
• housing
• hull
• husk
• pod
• sheath
• shell

Examples of jacket in a Sentence

Noun

a suit with a double-breasted jacket

slip the art book into its jacket so it won't get dirty

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Valuable books are protected with Mylar jackets or leather slipcases against the depredations of soiling, rubbing, thumbing, cropping, scuffing, chafing, shaking, and shelf wear. —Tad Friend, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024

For This One Thing About Ben Amid Their Divorce In photos obtained by Page Six, the 52-year-old actor appeared to keep things low-key, sporting a casual ensemble of jeans paired with a maroon jacket and shirt. —Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 20 Oct. 2024

Verb

For example, why should law-making in modern society be jacketed by the standards of pre-industrial 18th century America? —Robert J. Spitzer, Time, 6 June 2023

Any large bones needed to be jacketed, which involves digging a trough around the finding and wrapping the entire fossil in long strips of wet plaster. —Jennifer Billock, Smithsonian, 25 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English jaket, from Anglo-French jackés, plural, diminutive of Middle French jaque short jacket, from jacques peasant, from the name Jacques James

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1856, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing jacket

• bomber jacket
• bush jacket
• dinner jacket
• donkey jacket
• dust jacket
• Eton jacket
• flak jacket
• jacket potato
• life jacket
• mess jacket
• monkey jacket
• Norfolk jacket
• pea jacket
• safari jacket
• shell jacket
• shirt jacket
• smoking jacket
• sport jacket
• sports jacket
• water jacket
• yellow jacket

Kids Definition

jacket

noun

jack·​et

ˈjak-ət

1

: a garment for the upper body usually having a front opening, collar, and sleeves

2

: an outer covering or casing: as

a

: a tough metal covering on a bullet or projectile

b

: a coating or covering of a nonconducting material used to prevent heat radiation

c

: an outer paper wrapper on a bound book

jacketed

-ət-əd

adjective

Medical Definition

jacket

noun

jack·​et ˈjak-ət 

1

: a rigid covering that envelops the upper body and provides support, correction, or restraint

2

: jacket crown

Legal Definition

jacket

noun

jack·​et

: a standard insurance policy to which other coverage or exclusions may be attached