vest
gb/vˈɛst/ us/vˈɛst/
B1
Anglais
~ 9600
Sens
0 sens
Nom
B1
entity
1
sleeveless outer garment
A piece of clothing without sleeves that you wear on the top part of your body, usually over another shirt or top.
Schéma d’usage :
to wear a vest over [clothing]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners often confuse the meaning of "vest" in American and British English. In American English, a "vest" is usually a sleeveless outer garment (often padded, denim, or part of a suit). In British English, this clothing item is more often called a "waistcoat" or a "gilet" (for casual outerwear).
Synonymes
sleeveless jacket (Very close in meaning, but sounds slightly more descriptive and less like a standard clothing item name.)
Antonymes
long-sleeved jacket (Contrasts with a vest by emphasizing the presence of sleeves.)
Collocations
puffer vest
|denim vest
|bulletproof vest
|safety vest
|life vest
|high-visibility vest
Thèmes
clothing
|daily life
|fashion
|daily_life
Exemples
- She wore a puffer vest over her hoodie because it was chilly outside.
- The workers had to wear a bright orange safety vest on the construction site.
- He took off his life vest only after the boat was safely back at the dock.
- A denim vest can make a simple outfit look more stylish.
- The police officer put on a bulletproof vest before going on patrol.
Exemples pédagogiques
- He put on a warm vest over his shirt.
- The man in the road is wearing a yellow safety vest.
- You should wear a life vest when you are in a small boat.
- She bought a black vest to wear in the winter.
- The police officer is wearing a bulletproof vest.
Nom
B1
entity
2
undershirt (especially British English)
(UK) A light top, usually made of cotton, that you wear on your upper body under your shirt to keep warm or to absorb sweat.
Schéma d’usage :
to wear a vest under [clothing]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners often think "vest" always means an outer garment. In British English, "vest" usually means an undergarment, while the outer sleeveless garment is more often called a "waistcoat" (formal) or a "bodywarmer"/"gilet" (casual).
Synonymes
undershirt (Standard American English term; used similarly but more common in North America.)
Antonymes
outerwear (Refers to clothing worn on the outside, contrasting with an undergarment like a vest.)
Collocations
thermal vest
|cotton vest
|sleeveless vest
|string vest
|children's vest
Thèmes
clothing
|daily life
|health
|daily_life
Exemples
- He always wears a thermal vest under his shirt in winter.
- Mum bought a pack of cotton vests for the kids.
- The doctor advised him to wear a vest so he wouldn’t catch a chill.
- She put a clean vest on the baby after the bath.
- My grandfather still wears a string vest under his work shirt.
Exemples pédagogiques
- In the UK, many people wear a vest under their shirt.
- He put on a warm vest before his sweater.
- She bought new cotton vests for her children.
- The baby is wearing a small white vest.
- I need to wash my vests; they are dirty.
Verbe
formal
C1
action
3
give legal rights or authority
To give a person or group legal power, rights, or property in an official way, often written in law or a contract.
Schéma d’usage :
to vest [rights/powers/property] in [someone/something]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may try to use "vest" like common verbs such as "give" or "offer" in everyday speech (e.g. *"They vested me a car"). "Vest" is mainly used in legal, business, or formal contexts and usually appears in patterns like "vest rights in" or "vest authority in".
Synonymes
grant (More general and common; does not specifically suggest legal ownership in the technical sense that "vest" often has.)
Antonymes
divest (Means to remove rights, property, or authority, often the opposite action of vesting them.)
Collocations
vest power in
|vest authority in
|vest rights in
|vest property in
|vest control in
Thèmes
law
|business
|government
|finance
Exemples
- The new constitution vests significant power in regional governments.
- Under the contract, all intellectual property is vested in the company.
- The board voted to vest full authority in the interim director.
- The trust instrument vests legal title in the trustee.
- This law vests control of natural resources in the state.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The new law vests more power in local councils.
- The agreement vests ownership of the software in the company.
- The judge said that the property was vested in the children.
- The contract vests full control in the manager.
- Their voting rights are vested in the board of directors.
Verbe
technical
C1
event
4
of rights: become fully owned
When rights or benefits "vest", they become fully yours, and you cannot lose them, usually after you work for a company for a set time or meet some rule.
Schéma d’usage :
[rights/benefits] vest after [time/condition]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse "vest" with "invest" in financial contexts. "Invest" means to put money into something; "vest" (of rights/benefits) means those rights become fully yours. Also, this sense is almost always used without a direct object: we say "the options vest," not *"the company vests the options" in this intransitive pattern.
Synonymes
mature (Can describe investments or policies becoming due, but is broader and less specifically tied to employee benefits or legal rights.)
Antonymes
forfeit (Describes losing rights or benefits, the opposite result of rights vesting.)
Collocations
stock options vest
|benefits vest
|pension rights vest
|shares vest
|cliff vest
|gradually vest
Thèmes
business
|finance
|law
|work
Exemples
- Your stock options vest over four years, with 25% vesting each year.
- After three years of service, her pension benefits are fully vested.
- If you leave the company before your shares vest, you will lose them.
- The agreement states that ownership will vest upon completion of the project.
- His rights under the plan vest only if he remains employed until 2028.
Exemples pédagogiques
- My company gives me shares that vest after four years.
- Her pension will vest when she has worked there for five years.
- If you quit now, your options will not vest.
- The benefits vest slowly over time.
- Your rights vest only after you finish the full program.
Verbe
literary
C2
action
5
dress in ceremonial clothing
To put special clothes, often for a church or formal event, on a person.
Schéma d’usage :
to vest [someone] in [garment/robes]
Erreur fréquente :
This sense is rare and mostly appears in religious or very formal writing. Learners sometimes assume it has the same meaning as the legal sense of "vest" (to give rights), but here it is about clothing for a ceremony.
Synonymes
robe (Focuses on putting a robe on someone; "vest" is more formal and usually religious or ceremonial.)
Antonymes
disrobe (Means to remove clothes, especially formal or ceremonial ones, which is the opposite of vesting someone.)
Collocations
vest the priest
|vested in robes
|fully vested for mass
|vested for the ceremony
Thèmes
religion
|ceremony
|culture
Exemples
- The bishop was vested in elaborate robes for the ceremony.
- The priest vested quickly before the start of mass.
- They vested the newly ordained deacon in his liturgical garments.
- The choir was vested in white for the Easter service.
- He watched as the clergy were solemnly vested for the procession.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The priest was vested in special clothes for the service.
- They vested the new bishop in his robe.
- The children were vested in white robes for the ceremony.
- The pastor is already vested and ready for church.
- The choir is vested in red and gold robes.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
vest
API
GB/vˈɛst/
US/vˈɛst/
Syllabes et accentuation
vest (1 syllabe)
Stress on 1st syllable (vest)
Formes du mot
Noun
- Base: vest
- Plural: vests
Verb
- Base: vest
- 3rd Person Singular: vests
- Present Participle: vesting
- Past: vested
Famille de mots
Forms
vests
noun
vesting
verb
vested
verb
Advanced or less common
vestment
noun
Expressions
be vested in
3/bˈi vˈɛstɪd ˈɪn/
fixed phrase
formal
rights or powers belong to
Used to say that legal rights or powers officially belong to someone or something, often in laws or official texts.
Exemples
- All legislative powers are vested in Parliament.
- Final authority is vested in the board of directors.
- Under the constitution, sovereignty is vested in the people.
fully vested
5/fˈʊli vˈɛstɪd/
fixed phrase
technical
having complete ownership of benefits
Having complete legal rights to all of your benefits in a plan (like a pension or stock options), so you cannot lose them even if you leave the job.
Exemples
- Employees become fully vested after five years of service.
- Once you are fully vested, you keep your pension even if you change companies.
- He checked his account and saw that he was already fully vested in the plan.
rights vest
4/ɹˈaɪts vˈɛst/
fixed phrase
technical
rights become fully owned
Used to say that legal rights or benefits become fully yours and can be used, often after some time or conditions.
Exemples
- The rights vest after three years of continuous employment.
- Under the agreement, her rights vest immediately upon signing.
- If you resign before your rights vest, you may lose your benefits.
vest in
2/vˈɛst ˈɪn/
phrasal verb
formal
formally give rights to
To give someone legal rights, power, or property in an official way, usually said as "vest [something] in [someone]".
Exemples
- The new charter vests all executive power in the president.
- Ownership of the land is vested in the local council.
- The act vests decision-making authority in an independent committee.
vested interest
1/vˈɛstɪd ˈɪntɚˌɛst/
idiom
personal reason to benefit from something
A strong personal reason to support or protect something because you will get a benefit from it.
Exemples
- The company has a vested interest in keeping regulations weak.
- Parents have a vested interest in improving local schools.
- He opposed the changes because he had a vested interest in the old system.