ENGLISH
REFERENCE

vest

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈvɛst// UK //vˈɛst// vest Archaic

n. a piece of clothing without sleeves that you wear over a shirt or under a jacket. In some countries, it is also the word for a thin shirt you wear under your clothes to stay warm.

n. a sleeveless garment covering the upper body, typically worn over a shirt and under a suit jacket or as protective gear. In British English, refers specifically to an undergarment worn for warmth.


SIMPLE

He wore a grey vest over his white shirt for the wedding.

CONTEXTUAL

The construction workers are required to wear bright yellow safety vests so drivers can see them clearly.

COMPLEX

While the three-piece suit traditionally includes a matching vest, modern fashion often allows for contrasting textures or colors to create a more contemporary aesthetic.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From French veste (“a vest, jacket”), from Latin vestis (“a garment, gown, robe, vestment, clothing, vesture”), from Proto-Indo-European wéstis, from wes- (“to be dressed”) (English wear). Cognate with Sanskrit वस्त्र (vastra) and Spanish vestir.

Usage

In American English, it refers to a waistcoat; in British English, it usually refers to an undershirt.

Idioms1 entry

© 2026 English Reference