Definition

Noun: A piece of safety equipment designed to provide buoyancy in water to prevent a person from sinking and drowning. It is typically a belt, jacket, vest, or ring made of buoyant materials.

Usage

A "flotation device" is used for safety in or near water. It is essential for non-swimmers, children, and during water-based activities like boating. The term refers specifically to the equipment's function of keeping a person afloat.

Examples

• Noun:
  • All passengers must wear a flotation device while on the deck of the small boat.
  • The law requires one approved flotation device for each person on board the vessel.
  • The swimming instructor ensured every child had a proper flotation device before entering the deep end.

Advanced Usage

• Personal Flotation Device (PFD): This is the formal, technical term used in safety regulations and by the coast guard. It categorizes devices by type (e.g., Type I, II, III) based on their intended use and buoyancy.
  • According to maritime law, you must have a Type I Personal Flotation Device for offshore use.

Variants and Related Words

• Life jacket (n): A specific type of flotation device that is worn like a jacket, often with more buoyancy and designed to turn an unconscious person face-up in the water.
• Life vest (n): Similar to a life jacket, often used interchangeably.
• Buoyancy aid (n): A type of flotation device designed primarily for conscious users in calm, sheltered waters where help is close by, such as for kayaking or paddleboarding.

Synonyms

• Life preserver: A general term for any device used to save a person from drowning.
• Buoyant apparatus: A more formal or technical synonym.

Related Phrases

• To don a flotation device: To put on a flotation device.
  • The captain ordered everyone to don a flotation device immediately.
• Approved flotation device: A device that meets specific safety standards set by an authority.
  • Make sure your flotation device is Coast Guard approved.

Noun

1. rescue equipment consisting of a buoyant belt or jacket to keep a person from drowning