life jacket

noun

1. a sleeveless jacket of buoyant or inflatable construction, for supporting the wearer in deep water and preventing drowning.

life jacket

noun

1. an inflatable sleeveless jacket worn to keep a person afloat when in danger of drowning

Word History and Origins

Origin of life jacket¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

“They didn’t do anything else besides making sure everybody had a life jacket — and everybody had a life jacket.”

From Los Angeles Times

More than 100 boats, 1,000 life jackets, engines and cash were seized as part of the international operation.

From BBC

A volunteer with another charity tells us of recently catching a rare glimpse of roughly 30 Vietnamese buying life jackets at a Dunkirk branch of the sports gear chain Decathlon.

From BBC

The package included an inflatable dinghy with an outboard motor and 60 life jackets.

From BBC

For that we would be given an inflatable dinghy, with an outboard motor and 60 life jackets, to get across the English Channel.

From BBC

Related Words

• life preserver
• life vest