What's the difference between a jacket and a coat?

[Rob]

I call them jackets, my friend calls them coats. Is there a difference?

[CurrentlySober]

in my book a jacket is more something that is stylish and fashionable and a coat is more functional, possibly waterproof and warm

[mineistaken]

Of course. Jackets are short, coats are long (there are also short ones, but they are of the same style as that long coat if you know what I mean). Give me an image and I will tell you if it is a jacket or a coat.
Having said that - maybe there are some type of middle ground where you can not decide, but majority is still distinctive.

[newB]

Originally Posted by mineistaken

Of course. Jackets are short, coats are long (there are also short ones, but they are of the same style as that long coat if you know what I mean). Give me an image and I will tell you if it is a jacket or a coat.
Having said that - maybe there are some type of middle ground where you can not decide, but majority is still distinctive.

You should go into politics.

I tend to use the word coat for heavier garments designed for warmth. If it's light-weight like a wind-breaker or worn more for fashion, then I will typically refer to it as a jacket.

[plaster]

You can call a jacket a sports jacket but you don't call a coat a sports coat. Hope that clears it all up.

[mineistaken]

Google images "mens coat" is perfect illustration of what a coat is. Then "mens jacket" for jackets (although that side of images have many coats in them, from that we could imply that calling coat a jacket is more acceptable than calling jacket a coat, lol)

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by plaster

You can call a jacket a sports jacket but you don't call a coat a sports coat. Hope that clears it all up.

You most certainly can call it a sport coat, the names are interchangeable.

Re: the op

There is no difference between a coat and jacket.

[CDSmith]

Up here in winterville 'jacket' usually pertains to something lighter, shorter, and less warm. Eg: My GFY leather jacket is perfect for fall and early winter, but I have to hang it up and start wearing my heavier winter COAT when the temps drop well below freezing.

But yes, sport coat -- sport jacket; totally interchangeable.

[plaster]

Dammit. .. let's try this analogy :

You can call a jacket a leather jacket, but you don't call a coat, a leather coat.

Hope that finally clears up the issue.

[dyna mo]

the issue was cleared up with post #7

[bronco67]

a jacket can probably get you laid more than a coat.

[mineistaken]

Originally Posted by dyna mo

There is no difference between a coat and jacket.

There absolutely is.
However:

Speakers of American English sometimes informally use the words jacket and coat interchangeably

Coat (clothing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

"There is no difference" and "sometimes informally (and only in American English, not even real English) use interchangeably" are different things.

[Wizzo]

What's the difference between Jelly and Jam?




You can't jelly your dick in a girl's ass!

[SBJ]

Originally Posted by CDSmith

Up here in winterville 'jacket' usually pertains to something lighter, shorter, and less warm. Eg: My GFY leather jacket is perfect for fall and early winter, but I have to hang it up and start wearing my heavier winter COAT when the temps drop well below freezing.

But yes, sport coat -- sport jacket; totally interchangeable.

This is what I think of

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by mineistaken

There absolutely is.
However:


Coat (clothing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

"There is no difference" and "sometimes informally (and only in American English, not even real English) use interchangeably" are different things.

that wiki entry is from the early 19th century.

a dandy prolly wrote that.

[mineistaken]

Who of those who claim there is no difference would always call ALL of these 5 either all coats, or all jackets.

[dyna mo]

this is a smoking jacket and a great example of why there is no difference between a jacket and a coat any more.

a smoking jacket meets all the requirements to be a coat, and fails the requirements to be a jacket. but it's not a [smoking] coat, it's a smoking jacket.

history and semantics.

[Barry-xlovecam]

Search :
jacket definition
and
coat definition

Google can be your friend ...

[CurrentlySober]

Actually the correct answer to the difference is 2 letters...

[PR_Glen]

why is the ESL guy arguing the english language?

people have preferences for each but they absolutely mean the same thing.

[mineistaken]

Originally Posted by PR_Glen

why is the ESL guy arguing the english language?

people have preferences for each but they absolutely mean the same thing.

So you would be calling all of my 5 examples either coats, or jackets and would do it with the exact same amount of confidence?
Like you would be calling #1 and #5 coats with the same amount of confidence?

You may not answer, just be honest to yourself.

[mineistaken]

Originally Posted by PR_Glen

why is the ESL guy arguing the english language?

Oh, and it is even easier to know the difference between the 2 for those who are not English speakers. Reason - in most languages those 2 words translates into 2 different words which mean 2 different types of clothes.

So lame attempt to insult backfired once again at the libby

Again - sometimes they may be interchangeable (as I initially admitted in my first post).

[#23]

Cats have Coats not Jackets

[LetterTwenty7]

Why don't you just call it a thing that you take off first before having sex on a cold winter night. :P

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by mineistaken

So you would be calling all of my 5 examples either coats, or jackets and would do it with the exact same amount of confidence?
Like you would be calling #1 and #5 coats with the same amount of confidence?

You may not answer, just be honest to yourself.

As the op points out, nowadays it simply depends on what you usually call them.

I'd call that last pic a down jacket.

[GFED]

[QUOTE=mineistaken;20721125]Who of those who claim there is no difference would always call ALL of these 5 either all coats, or all jackets.

I call 1-3 coats and 4-5 jackets... I always think of coats as a furry or fluffy material... jackets are usually waterproof.

Edit: although you do have RAINcoats... and JEANjackets lol

[mineistaken]

Originally Posted by dyna mo

As the op points out, nowadays it simply depends on what you usually call them.

I'd call that last pic a down jacket.

Yeah, but lets see my argument, which is pretty simple:

If it is "the same" (and not, as wikipedia put it, "sometimes informally used interchangeably") people should be calling each of those either coat or jacket with the same confidence and conviction.

For example you have a guest wearing #1 and say "take of you coat". And then have a guest wearing #5 and say "take of your coat". And in both instances you should feel the same confidence and conviction while saying those phrases, because it is "the same"....

If you follow my drift..

That is why I say no to "it is the same" and yes to "sometimes informally used interchangeably".

[Google Expert]

Originally Posted by Rob

I call them jackets, my friend calls them coats. Is there a difference?

The difference is you're a dumbass.

[Vendzilla]

A jacket is a mid-stomach–length garment for the upper body. A jacket typically has sleeves, and fastens in the front or slightly on the side. A jacket is generally lighter, tighter-fitting, and less insulating than a coat, which is outerwear. Some jackets are fashionable, while others serve as protective clothing.

[Rob]

To me, this is a coat.



And this is a jacket.

[GFED]

Originally Posted by Rob

To me, this is a coat.



And this is a jacket.

me too...

[MakeMeGrrrrowl]

Originally Posted by newB

You should go into politics.

I tend to use the word coat for heavier garments designed for warmth. If it's light-weight like a wind-breaker or worn more for fashion, then I will typically refer to it as a jacket.

That would be my definition.

[dyna mo]

Originally Posted by mineistaken

Yeah, but lets see my argument, which is pretty simple:

If it is "the same" (and not, as wikipedia put it, "sometimes informally used interchangeably") people should be calling each of those either coat or jacket with the same confidence and conviction.

For example you have a guest wearing #1 and say "take of you coat". And then have a guest wearing #5 and say "take of your coat". And in both instances you should feel the same confidence and conviction while saying those phrases, because it is "the same"....

If you follow my drift..

That is why I say no to "it is the same" and yes to "sometimes informally used interchangeably".

You stitch together a solid argument. Get it, stitch, yuk yuk. Unfortunately, the fact remains there is no difference. The line has been blurred over the centuries such that there's no difference. You'd never call that goose down jacket a goose down coat, etc., et al, on&on.

[plaster]

You don't call a top hat cap and you don't call a coat jacket. Clear distinctions in the accepted norm.

[georgeyw]

Originally Posted by Rob

To me, this is a coat.



And this is a jacket.

I agree with you on that.