Definition

Noun: A protective garment worn on the torso, designed to absorb or deflect the impact from bullets and other projectiles, thereby preventing or reducing injury to the vital organs of the wearer.

Usage

A "bulletproof vest" is a specific type of body armor. It is typically worn by law enforcement officers, military personnel, and security details. The term is used to describe the item itself. * The officer put on his bulletproof vest before starting his patrol. * Modern bulletproof vests are made from advanced materials like Kevlar.

Advanced Usage

• "to wear a bulletproof vest": To have the vest on one's body for protection.
  • Journalists in conflict zones often wear bulletproof vests.
• Conceptual/Informal Use: Can be used metaphorically to describe something that provides strong protection against criticism or attack.
  • His legal team gave him a bulletproof vest of contractual clauses.

Variants and Related Words

• Body armor (n): The broader category of protective clothing that includes bulletproof vests, helmets, and plates.
• Flak jacket (n): A type of protective vest originally designed to protect against shrapnel ("flak") from explosives.
• Ballistic vest (n): A more technical term synonymous with "bulletproof vest," emphasizing protection against ballistic projectiles.

Synonyms

• Protective vest
• Ballistic vest
• Body armor (in the specific context of a torso garment)

Related Phrases

• "bulletproof" (adj): Describes a material or object capable of stopping bullets.
  • The car had bulletproof windows.
• "vest up" (phrasal verb, informal): To put on a bulletproof vest.
  • The squad was ordered to vest up before the raid.

Noun

1. a vest capable of resisting the impact of a bullet