bodywarmer

IPA/ˈbɒd.iˌwɔː.mər/
IPA/ˈbɑː.diˌwɔːr.mɚ/

bodywarmer — noun

  • bodywarmersingular
  • bodywarmersplural

1. A sleeveless outer garment, cut short and close-fitting, made from thick fabric

1.nounB1
Definition

A sleeveless outer garment, cut short and close-fitting, made from thick fabric such as fleece or padded material. You wear it over other clothes to keep your upper body warm.

Example

Lakan put on his fleece bodywarmer before heading out into the cold morning air.

collocation: fleece bodywarmer

Nora wore a padded bodywarmer over her jumper while she worked in the garden.

collocation: padded bodywarmer / wear over [item]

Common collocations
  • fleece bodywarmer
  • padded bodywarmer
  • quilted bodywarmer
  • lightweight bodywarmer
  • zip-up bodywarmer
  • wear a bodywarmer
  • put on a bodywarmer
  • take off a bodywarmer
Synonyms
  • gilet

    the French-origin term used in fashion and retail, slightly more formal or style-focused than 'bodywarmer'

  • vest

    American English equivalent; in British English 'vest' means an undershirt, so learners should be careful with this term in the UK

Grammar Patterns

[adjective] + bodywarmer

wear/put on/take off + a/the bodywarmer

Usage Note

Bodywarmer is the most common term in British English. In American English the same garment is usually called a 'vest' or 'gilet'. The word is typically used in casual or practical contexts — for example, describing outdoor clothing or workwear — rather than formal fashion.

Common Mistakes

She wore a bodywarmer to swim in the pool.
She wore a bodywarmer to stay warm on the cold walk.
A bodywarmer is for warmth in cold weather, not for swimming or water activities.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Bodywarmer', 'gilet', 'vest', and 'waistcoat' all describe sleeveless upper-body garments, but they vary by region and formality. 'Bodywarmer' is the everyday British English word for a thick, padded or fleece sleeveless jacket worn outdoors for warmth. 'Gilet' (from French) is the fashion-industry term for the same kind of garment and sounds slightly more elegant or expensive. In American English, 'vest' covers both thin sleeveless tops and padded sleeveless jackets; but in British English, 'vest' means an undershirt or tank top worn next to the skin. 'Waistcoat' refers to a formal sleeveless garment worn over a shirt and under a suit jacket — it is not intended for warmth. So in the UK, if you go for a winter walk you put on a bodywarmer; if you attend a wedding you wear a waistcoat.

bodywarmer ↗gilet ↗vest ↗waistcoat ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • wear a bodywarmer
  • put on a bodywarmer
  • take off a bodywarmer

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

'Bodywarmer' is a compound word formed from 'body' (from Old English 'bodig', meaning the physical frame of a person) and 'warmer' (from Old English 'werman', to make warm). The term emerged in British English in the mid-20th century as a practical name for a sleeveless padded jacket designed to keep the core of the body warm without restricting arm movement. It belongs to a class of compound garment names like 'sweatshirt' and 'windcheater' that describe function directly.