# waistcoat

/wˈeɪstkəʊt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/waistcoat
Updated: 2026-10-15

## Definition

a short top with no sleeves that you wear over a shirt, often under a suit jacket.

For teachers: a sleeveless upper-body garment worn over a shirt and typically under a jacket, fastened down the front and forming part of formal three-piece dress.

## Examples

- He wears a waistcoat with his suit.
- The waiter wears a black waistcoat over a white shirt.
- For the winter wedding he chose a charcoal three-piece suit, its waistcoat cut high to show only a narrow band of tie and pocket watch chain.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.