Definition

Noun: A sleeveless jacket designed to keep a person afloat in water. It is a type of personal flotation device (PFD) that is either inherently buoyant or can be inflated.

Usage

A "life jacket" is worn for safety in aquatic environments. It is essential equipment on boats, ships, and aircraft flying over water. The term specifically refers to the jacket-style design.

Examples

• Noun:
  • Passengers must locate their life jacket under their seat before takeoff.
  • The coast guard requires all children to wear a life jacket while on the deck.
  • He inflated his life jacket after falling into the cold water.

Advanced Usage

• "To don a life jacket": To put on a life jacket.
  • The captain ordered everyone to don a life jacket immediately.

Variants and Related Words

• Life vest: A very close synonym, often used interchangeably.
• Personal Flotation Device (PFD): The formal technical category that includes life jackets, as well as other designs like buoyancy aids and immersion suits.
• Mae West (slang, historical): Informal term for an inflatable life jacket, named after the actress known for her curvaceous figure.

Synonyms

• Life preserver (This is a broader category, but "life jacket" is a specific type of life preserver.)
• Buoyancy aid (This typically refers to a device for conscious users in calm, sheltered waters, offering less buoyancy than a standard life jacket.)

Related Phrases

• "To wear a life jacket": The standard instruction for using this safety device.
  • It is the law to wear a life jacket in this type of vessel.

Noun

1. life preserver consisting of a sleeveless jacket of buoyant or inflatable design