windbreaker
WIND-bray-ker
/ˈwɪndˌbreɪkər/
A thin, lightweight, wind-resistant jacket, typically made of synthetic fabric like nylon, often with elastic cuffs and a hood.
Emphasizes protection against wind and light drizzle while remaining incredibly lightweight and packable.
The story behind the word. Originally, 'Windbreaker' was a registered trademark of the John Rissman company of Chicago in the 1940s for their gabardine outdoor jackets. Over time, the brand name became genericized to describe any lightweight, synthetic jacket designed to block the wind.
Word relationships
- windcheater: Windcheater is the preferred term in British and Australian English, while windbreaker is standard in American English.
- heavy coat: A heavy coat is thick, insulated, and designed for extreme cold, whereas a windbreaker is thin and designed solely to block wind and light rain.
Commonly confused with
- raincoat: A raincoat is specifically designed to be highly waterproof and keep heavy rain out, whereas a windbreaker focuses primarily on wind resistance and is often only water-resistant.
Collocations
- lightweight windbreaker
- nylon windbreaker
- waterproof windbreaker
- hooded windbreaker
Example sentences
- "The weather forecast predicted gusty winds at the summit, so he made sure to pack a lightweight windbreaker in his backpack." Preparing for a hike in unpredictable weather.
Memory hook
Think of the jacket acting as a shield that 'breaks' the force of the 'wind' before it can reach your body. A jacket that breaks the cold wind.
When not to use
Do not use to describe heavy, insulated winter coats, or structured formal jackets like blazers.
Fun facts
- The genericization of the trademark 'Windbreaker' is similar to how 'Kleenex' became the word for tissues or 'Band-Aid' for adhesive bandages.
Related words
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