vest

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: a sleeveless garment for the upper body usually worn over a shirt
b
: a protective usually sleeveless garment (such as a life preserver) that extends to the waist
c
: an insulated sleeveless waist-length garment often worn under or in place of a coat
2
a
chiefly British : a man's sleeveless undershirt
b
: a knitted undershirt for women
3
: a plain or decorative piece used to fill in the front neckline of a woman's outer garment (such as a blouse or dress)
4
archaic
a
: a loose outer garment : robe
b
vestlike adjective

vest

2 of 2

verb

vested; vesting; vests

transitive verb

1
a
: to grant or endow with a particular authority, right, or property
the plan vests workers with pension benefits after 10 years of service
b
: to place or give into the possession or discretion of some person or authority
especially : to give to a person a legally fixed immediate right of present or future enjoyment of (such as an estate)
2
: to clothe with or as if with a garment
especially : to robe in ecclesiastical vestments

intransitive verb

1
: to become legally vested
2
: to put on garments or vestments

Examples of vest in a Sentence

Verb “By the power vested in me by the state,” intoned the minister, “I now pronounce that you are married” vested the power to access their retirement accounts with their attorney
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
Clad in a studded vest and a black Korn tank top, the 31-year-old strode across the Paramount stage with royal blue blossoms in the foreground. Peter A. Berry, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2024 Other shoppers wore the vest to cooler climates in New York, Washington, and Europe. Gabriella Maestri, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2024
Verb
The RSUs will vest ratably over a three-year period beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date, per the filing. Todd Spangler, Variety, 15 Oct. 2024 The agency can then use its might, vested by the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, to put regulations into action. Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for vest 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French veste, from Italian, from Latin vestis garment

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French vestir to clothe, invest, vest, from Latin vestire to clothe, from vestis clothing, garment — more at wear

First Known Use

Noun

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of vest was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near vest

Cite this Entry

“Vest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vest. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

vest

1 of 2 verb
1
: to place or give into the possession or control of some person or authority
powers vested in the presidency
2
: to clothe in vestments

vest

2 of 2 noun
1
: a sleeveless garment usually worn under a suit coat
2
: a protective garment (as a life preserver) that reaches to the waist
3
: a knitted undershirt for women
Etymology

Verb

Middle English vesten "to give into the possession or control of someone," from early French vestir "to dress with clothes, to give power or authority to," from Latin vestire "to clothe," from vestis "clothing, garment"

Noun

from French veste "robe, garment," from Italian veste (same meaning), from Latin vestis "clothing, garment"

Legal Definition

vest

verb

transitive verb

1
: to place in the possession, discretion, or province of some person or authority
all legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United StatesU.S. Constitution art. I
a timely notice of appeal vests jurisdiction in the appeals court
specifically : to give to a person a fixed and immediate right of present or future enjoyment of (as an estate)
an interest vested in the beneficiary
2
: to grant or endow with a particular authority, right, or property
vest a judge with discretion

intransitive verb

: to become vested
specifically : to entitle one unconditionally to the payment of pension benefits upon termination or retirement
his pension interest will vest after ten years with the company
compare mature
Etymology

Verb

Anglo-French vestir, literally, to clothe, from Old French, from Latin vestire

More from Merriam-Webster on vest

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!