coat

1 of 2

noun

ˈkōt 

often attributive

1

a

: an outer garment worn on the upper body and varying in length and style according to fashion and use

b

: something resembling a coat

2

: the external growth on an animal

3

: a layer of one substance covering another

a coat of paint

coated

ˈkō-təd 

adjective

coatless adjective

coat

2 of 2

verb

coated; coating; coats

transitive verb

1

: to cover with a coat

2

: to cover or spread with a finishing, protecting, or enclosing layer

coater noun

Synonyms

Noun

• fleece
• fur
• hair
• jacket
• pelage
• pile
• wool

Verb

• blanket
• carpet
• cover
• overlay
• overlie
• overspread
• sheet

Examples of coat in a Sentence

Noun

She put on her coat, hat, and gloves, and then she went outside.

He was wearing a coat and tie.

The dog has a thick coat.

The house needed three coats to cover the original paint.

Verb

Rock dust coated his hair.

My shoes are coated with mud.

Coat the chicken with flour.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Toss until butter is melted and evenly coats asparagus. —Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 28 Mar. 2025

The look was simple: a black Louis Vuitton crewneck sweater with light-wash straight-legged jeans, worn underneath a black below-the-knee coat from Maison Margiela, and a pair of black lug-sole boots. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 28 Mar. 2025

Verb

The wheat and sunflowers that Viktor grew would coat the fields in color, green wheat in one season, golden flowers in another. —Ross Peleh, NPR, 27 Mar. 2025

The breathable and form-fitting Nylon/Spandex liner is coated with nitrile (a synthetic rubber) for protection and grip. —Nora Taylor, Architectural Digest, 24 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English cote, from Anglo-French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German kozza coarse wool mantle

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing coat

• box coat
• candy coat
• car coat
• coat check
• coat-check/hat-check girl
• coat hanger
• coat of arms
• coat of mail
• duffel coat
• duffle coat
• frock coat
• lab coat
• morning coat
• Newmarket coat
• polo coat
• sack coat
• sclerotic coat
• seed coat
• sport coat
• sports coat
• trench coat
• white coat effect
• white coat hypertension
• white coat syndrome

Rhymes for coat

• bloat
• boat
• choate
• cote
• dote
• float
• gloat
• goat
• groat
• haute
• moat
• mote

Kids Definition

coat

1 of 2 noun

ˈkōt 

1

: an outer garment varying in length and style according to fashion and use

2

: the outer covering (as of fur) of an animal

3

: a layer of material covering a surface

a coat of paint

coated

-əd 

adjective

coat

2 of 2 verb

: to cover with a coat or covering

Medical Definition

coat

noun

ˈkōt 

1

: the external growth on an animal

2

: a layer of one substance covering or lining another

especially : one covering or lining an organ

the coat of the eyeball