vest

1 of 2

noun

ˈvest 

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

ˈvest-ˌlīk 

adjective

vest

2 of 2

verb

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

Synonyms of vest

Verb

• enable
• authorize
• empower
• license
• qualify

Examples of vest in a Sentence

Verb

“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 on the Web

Noun

Servers are dressed in exemplary white button-up shirts, black vests and bistro aprons. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2026

So much of her take on this artist in perpetual waiting revolves around sizing situations up, keeping cards close to vests, masking intents, letting tiny ripples in deceptively placid surfaces stand in for big displays. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2026

Verb

Accountability for public officials who have used the office for their own gain and abdicated the grave responsibilities vested in them is popular and a galvanizing political force. —New York Daily News, Twin Cities, 19 Apr. 2026

Per the compensation formula, the stock performance led the tranche to vest at 200% of the target amount, according to the filing. —Dade Hayes, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French veste, from Italian, from Latin vestis garment

Verb

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

First Known Use

Noun

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1b

Phrases Containing vest

• close to the vest
• hold/keep/play (something) close to the vest
• life vest
• play/hold/keep one's cards close to the/one's chest/vest
• sweater-vest
• vest-pocket
• vest-pocket park

Rhymes for vest

• blessed
• blest
• breast
• chest
• crest
• dressed
• fest
• gest
• geste
• guessed
• jest
• lest

Kids Definition

vest

1 of 2 verb

ˈvest 

1

: to place or give into the possession or control of some person or authority

powers vested in the presidency

2

: to clothe in vestments

vest

2 of 2 noun

1

: a sleeveless garment usually worn under a suit coat

2

: a protective garment (as a life preserver) that reaches to the waist

3

: a knitted undershirt for women

Etymology

Verb

Middle English vesten "to give into the possession or control of someone," from early French vestir "to dress with clothes, to give power or authority to," from Latin vestire "to clothe," from vestis "clothing, garment"

Noun

from French veste "robe, garment," from Italian veste (same meaning), from Latin vestis "clothing, garment"

Legal Definition

vest

verb

transitive verb

1

: to place in the possession, discretion, or province of some person or authority

all legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States

—U.S. Constitution art. I

a timely notice of appeal vests jurisdiction in the appeals court

specifically : to give to a person a fixed and immediate right of present or future enjoyment of (as an estate)

an interest vested in the beneficiary

2

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

vest a judge with discretion

intransitive verb

: to become vested

specifically : to entitle one unconditionally to the payment of pension benefits upon termination or retirement

his pension interest will vest after ten years with the company

compare mature

Etymology

Verb

Anglo-French vestir, literally, to clothe, from Old French, from Latin vestire