Definition

Noun: A lab coat is a knee-length, lightweight white coat, typically made of cotton or a cotton-polyester blend, worn over personal clothing. Its primary function is to protect the wearer's clothes and skin from accidental spills, splashes, or contact with chemicals, biological materials, or other substances used in a laboratory, medical, or research setting. It is a standard piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) and is often associated with scientists, doctors, and technicians.

Usage Examples

• The chemist put on her lab coat and safety goggles before beginning the experiment.
• His lab coat was stained with dye from the previous day's work.
• All students must wear a lab coat when in the biology laboratory.
• The doctor's lab coat had a name tag and a pen in the pocket.

Advanced Usage

• Symbolic Use: The term "lab coat" can be used metonymically to represent science, medicine, research, or authority in those fields.
  • The policy was decided by people in lab coats, not politicians.
• "White coat": In medical contexts, especially in phrases like "white coat ceremony" or "white coat hypertension," the term "white coat" is often used interchangeably with "lab coat," though "white coat" may imply a slightly more formal garment.

Variants and Related Words

• White coat (n): A synonym often used, particularly in medical professions.
• Laboratory coat (n): A more formal, full term for "lab coat."
• Smock (n): A similar loose, protective garment, but often associated with artists or industrial workers rather than laboratory scientists.

Synonyms

• Laboratory coat
• White coat
• Doctor's coat (context-specific)

Related Phrases

• Lab coat pocket: Refers to the typically large pockets on the front of the coat, used for holding notebooks, pens, instruments, or small tools.
  • He always kept a calculator in his lab coat pocket.

Noun

1. a light coat worn to protect clothing from substances used while working in a laboratory