wet suit

noun

|Updated on: 10 Jul 2018

Definition of wet suit

: a close-fitting suit made of material (such as sponge rubber) that is worn (as by a skin diver) especially in cold water to retain body heat and that traps a thin layer of water against the body

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Recent Examples of wet suit from the Web

When facing immersion in very cold water, wear a wet suit.

— tom stienstra, San Francisco Chronicle, "Rafters launch stellar season for rivers, water sports," 13 May 2018
Most wear wet suits and many say they have been harassed in some way while surfing, but their numbers are growing.

— staff, The Christian Science Monitor, "Meanwhile in ... Kazakhstan, an entire nation is struggling to learn a new alphabet," 7 June 2018
When sewage spills from Tijuana close the South Bay shoreline, Jesse Ramirez can’t sell wet suits or rent out surfboards.

— gustavo solis, sandiegouniontribune.com, "How do you run a surf shop when sewage spills constantly close the beach?," 27 May 2018
And tourists who want to give surfing a try in the small fishing village of Ericeira can rent a beginner’s board and wet suit for less than $30 dollars.

— adam shell, USA TODAY, "Pull out your passport: A rising dollar eases the cost of summer travel overseas," 23 May 2018
The Shape of Water adaptation that followed was equally as bizarre, with Corden clad in a scaly wet suit reminiscent of the amphibious creature from the Oscar-winning Guillermo Del Toro film.

— mackenzie cummings-grady, Billboard, "Audra McDonald & Dan Stevens Turn 'Taxi Driver,' 'The Shape of Water' Into Inappropriate Musicals On 'Late Late Show': Watch," 22 May 2018
Strong winds created monstrous waves from 13 to 15 feet in Lake Erie over the weekend, which had some surfers grabbing for the wet suits -- water temperatures were in the 30s.

— gus chan, cleveland.com, "Families learn to make Challah at workshop sponsored by JHUB (photos)," 16 Apr. 2018
All sailors in the Severn Laser league are required to wear a wet suit or drysuit.

— Washington Post, "Frostbite sailing on the Chesapeake Bay: Where even the ice isn’t a breaker," 6 Mar. 2018
Tests had found that removing the plug from the kayak was not enough in itself to cause the kayak to capsize, prosecutors said, and Mr. Viafore was not wearing a life jacket or a wet suit and the couple had alcohol with them on the trip.

— rick rojas, New York Times, "Out of Prison, Fiancée in Kayak Case Says, ‘I’m Not Heartless’," 18 Feb. 2018

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

First Known Use of wet suit

1955

in the meaning defined above

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WET SUIT Defined for English Language Learners

wet suit

noun

Definition of wet suit for English Language Learners

: a piece of clothing that is made of rubber and that is worn by swimmers, divers, etc., when they are in cold water in order to keep their bodies warm