vest

noun \ ˈvest \

|Updated on: 13 Aug 2018

Examples: vest in a Sentence

Definition of vest

1 a : a sleeveless garment for the upper body usually worn over a shirt

b : a protective usually sleeveless garment (such as a life preserver) that extends to the waist

c : an insulated sleeveless waist-length garment often worn under or in place of a coat

2 a chiefly British : a man's sleeveless undershirt

b : a knitted undershirt for women

3 : a plain or decorative piece used to fill in the front neckline of a woman's outer garment (such as a blouse or dress)

4 archaic

a : a loose outer garment : robe

b : clothing, garb

—

vestlike

play \ˈvest-ˌlīk\ adjective

See vest defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of vest from the Web

Byford, wearing a hard hat and a high-visibility vest, toured the site with a project foreman, climbing makeshift ladders, asking detailed questions about engineering sign-offs and subcontractors.

— william finnegan, The New Yorker, "Can Andy Byford Save the Subways?," 2 July 2018
Standing in the roadway, officers wore yellow reflective vests and handed out pamphlets to each car that came through the checkpoint.

— nathan j. fish, azcentral, "More than 14 drivers arrested at Mesa DUI checkpoint near Red Mountain Ranch," 28 May 2018
The duo wore fluorescent safety vests and arranged cones around their work area.

— USA TODAY, "Two guys were tired of waiting for the city to fill potholes, so they're doing it themselves," 8 Apr. 2018
The duo wore fluorescent safety vests and arranged cones around their work area.

— domenica bongiovanni, Indianapolis Star, "Two guys tired of waiting for the city to fill potholes, so they're doing it themselves," 7 Apr. 2018
The militants, who wore suicide vests, pinned security forces down for more than 13 hours after the attack began about 9 p.m. Saturday.

— rahim faiez, Houston Chronicle, "Afghan forces quell deadly hotel siege, leaving 18 dead," 21 Jan. 2018
The 74-page document reviewed everything from troopers not properly wearing their bullet proof vests to how the victims families were notified their child had died.

— dave altimari, courant.com, "State Police Release Report On Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting," 12 Jan. 2018
Offering up a fresh spin on a mensy three-piece suit, Watson chose a pristine monochromatic motif, pairing a sharp blazer and button-up vest with more billowy trousers.

— christian allaire, Vogue, "Emma Watson Might Be the Best-Dressed Celebrity at Wimbledon," 14 July 2018
Cole Anthony No prospect has played his recruiting process closer to the vest in the 2019 class than Anthony, the son of former NBA player Cole Anthony.

— jon hale, The Courier-Journal, "5 recruits who might earn a Kentucky basketball offer in July," 11 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vest.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of vest

French veste, from It, from Latin vestis garment

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1613

in the meaning defined at sense 4

See Words from the same year

vest

verb

Definition of vest

vested; vesting; vests

transitive verb

1 a : to grant or endow with a particular authority, right, or property

the plan vests workers with pension benefits after 10 years of service

b : to place or give into the possession or discretion of some person or authority; especially : to give to a person a legally fixed immediate right of present or future enjoyment of (such as an estate)

2 : to clothe with or as if with a garment; especially : to robe in ecclesiastical vestments

intransitive verb

1 : to become legally vested

2 : to put on garments or vestments

See vest defined for English-language learners

See vest defined for kids

Examples of vest in a Sentence

“By the power vested in me by the state,” intoned the minister, “I now pronounce that you are married”
vested the power to access their retirement accounts with their attorney

Recent Examples of vest from the Web

Joe Cohn, the legislative and policy director for the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education group that advocates for accused students' due process rights, said affirmative consent education would vest unrealistic expectations in students.

— alice yin, Detroit Free Press, "Should Michigan sex education require 'yes means yes' curriculum?," 3 June 2018
The plan, modeled on a 2012 pay package, includes more than 20 million in stock options that would vest in 12 tranches, each with shares equal to 1% of the company’s total shares outstanding as of Jan. 21.

— maria armental, WSJ, "Tesla Investors OK Plan That Could Pay Musk Billions," 21 Mar. 2018
These shares will vest over the next five years, according to WPP.

— suzanne vranica, WSJ, "WPP Probed Whether Former CEO Martin Sorrell Used Company Money for a Prostitute," 9 June 2018
His share awards will be prorated in line with the plan rules and will vest over the next five years, to the extent that performance targets are met.

— Fortune, "WPP CEO Martin Sorrell Resigns From Ad Empire Amid Allegations of Misconduct," 15 Apr. 2018
His share awards will be prorated in line with the plan rules and will vest over the next five years, to the extent that performance targets are met.

— joe mayes, latimes.com, "WPP CEO Sorrell quits after three decades at top of ad world," 15 Apr. 2018
Under the auspices of his government, the country has seen two parliamentary elections and a controversial referendum that vested wider powers in Turkey's presidency.

— ishaan tharoor, Washington Post, "The quest to defeat Erdogan," 19 June 2018
In our view, Congress should vest the responsibility for pipeline security with an agency that fully comprehends the nation's energy sector and has sufficient resources to address the growing cyber security threat to gas pipelines.

— neil chatterjee, richard glick, Houston Chronicle, "Cyber security rules needed for pipelines: FERC commissioners," 17 June 2018
Like many media cable and media companies, Comcast has two classes of stock that vest extraordinary voting rights on its founding family.

— Fortune, "Comcast Offers $65 Billion for Fox in Bidding War With Disney," 13 June 2018

Origin and Etymology of vest

Middle English, from Anglo-French vestir to clothe, invest, vest, from Latin vestire to clothe, from vestis clothing, garment — more at wear

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1b

See Words from the same year

vest Synonyms

Other Clothing Terms

babushka, brogue, bumbershoot, cravat, dishabille, furbelow, layette, raiment, spectator

VEST Defined for English Language Learners

vest

verb

Definition of vest for English Language Learners

: to give (someone) the legal right or power to do something or to own land or property

vest

noun

Definition of vest for English Language Learners

: a sleeveless piece of clothing with buttons down the front that is worn over a shirt and under a suit jacket
: a special piece of clothing that you wear on your upper body for protection or safety
: a man's sleeveless undershirt