vest
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.a piece of clothing without sleeves that buttons down the front, often worn over a shirt as part of a suit.
n.a sleeveless garment worn over a shirt, typically featuring a buttoned front; equivalent to the British 'waistcoat'.
Simple“He wore a grey vest over his white shirt for the wedding.”
In context“The groom opted for a three-piece suit, ensuring the silk backing of his vest matched the interior lining of his jacket.”
Synonymswaistcoat - 02 B1 Intermediate
n.a simple sleeveless top worn under your clothes to keep you warm.
n.a sleeveless undergarment worn next to the skin for warmth or protection; equivalent to the American 'undershirt'.
Simple“In the winter, the children always wear a cotton vest under their school jumpers.”
In context“The hiker layered a thermal vest beneath his fleece to maintain core body temperature during the ascent.”
Synonymsundershirtsinglet - 03 B1 Intermediate
n.a sleeveless jacket worn for safety or to carry tools.
n.a sleeveless outer garment designed for a specific functional purpose, such as high-visibility safety or equipment storage.
Simple“All workers on the construction site must wear a bright yellow safety vest.”
In context“The photographer wore a multi-pocketed utility vest to keep his spare lenses and batteries within easy reach during the shoot.”
Synonymswaistcoattabard - 04 C1 Advanced
v.to give someone official power or the right to make decisions.
v.to confer or bestow power, authority, or property upon a person or institution; typically used with 'in' or 'with'.
Simple“The power to change the law is vested in the parliament.”
In context“The executive council is vested with the authority to override local zoning ordinances in cases of public emergency.”
UsageUsually takes the preposition 'in' (power is vested in someone) or 'with' (someone is vested with power).
- 05 C1 Advanced
v.to become a fixed or permanent right, especially regarding money or shares.
v.to become an absolute or settled right, particularly in the context of pension benefits or stock options after a specific period of service.
Simple“Her company stock options will vest after she has worked there for three years.”
In context“Under the terms of the agreement, the employee's retirement benefits vest fully only after five years of continuous employment.”
UsageOften used as an intransitive verb in business contexts.
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.