coat

1 of 2

noun

ˈkōt 

often attributive

1

a

: an outer garment worn on the upper body and varying in length and style according to fashion and use

b

: something resembling a coat

2

: the external growth on an animal

3

: a layer of one substance covering another

a coat of paint

coated

ˈkō-təd 

adjective

coatless adjective

coat

2 of 2

verb

coated; coating; coats

transitive verb

1

: to cover with a coat

2

: to cover or spread with a finishing, protecting, or enclosing layer

coater noun

Synonyms

Noun

• wool
• hair

Verb

• cover
• blanket
• carpet
• sheet

Examples of coat in a Sentence

Noun

She put on her coat, hat, and gloves, and then she went outside.

He was wearing a coat and tie.

The dog has a thick coat.

The house needed three coats to cover the original paint.

Verb

Rock dust coated his hair.

My shoes are coated with mud.

Coat the chicken with flour.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Place shredded sprouts in a large mixing bowl and pour oil and vinegar mixture over them, tossing to coat. —Bethany Thayer, Freep.com, 27 Sep. 2025

Now is the time to inspect your heavy coats, pull out thicker bedding and space heaters from storage, and stock up on cozy blankets to get you through the cold weather. —Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025

Verb

Add cold butter cubes to flour mixture; toss to coat. —Staff Author, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Sep. 2025

Then, sprinkle in enough baking powder to evenly coat the wings. —Cody Godwin, USA Today, 28 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English cote, from Anglo-French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German kozza coarse wool mantle

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing coat

• box coat
• candy coat
• car coat
• coat check
• coat-check/hat-check girl
• coat hanger
• coat of arms
• coat of mail
• duffel coat
• duffle coat
• frock coat
• lab coat
• morning coat
• Newmarket coat
• polo coat
• sack coat
• sclerotic coat
• seed coat
• sport coat
• sports coat
• trench coat
• white coat effect
• white coat hypertension
• white coat syndrome

Rhymes for coat

• bloat
• boat
• choate
• cote
• dote
• float
• gloat
• goat
• groat
• haute
• moat
• mote

Kids Definition

coat

1 of 2 noun

ˈkōt 

1

: an outer garment varying in length and style according to fashion and use

2

: the outer covering (as of fur) of an animal

3

: a layer of material covering a surface

a coat of paint

coated

-əd 

adjective

coat

2 of 2 verb

: to cover with a coat or covering

Medical Definition

coat

noun

ˈkōt 

1

: the external growth on an animal

2

: a layer of one substance covering or lining another

especially : one covering or lining an organ

the coat of the eyeball