housecoat
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /hˈaʊskəʊt/
US
- /hˈaʊskoʊt/
Description
- Loose robe
- Dressing gown
- At-home wrap
- Indoor layer
Imagine waking up on a cool morning and wanting one more soft layer before you start the day. That is where a housecoat comes in. It is a loose, comfortable piece of clothing worn at home, often over pajamas or simple clothes. In many cases, it is very close to a robe or dressing gown. In some uses, especially older ones, it can also mean a simple dress meant for wearing around the house. People often picture it in the morning, in the evening, or during quiet time at home. It gives warmth, comfort, and a slightly more dressed feeling without being formal.
A housecoat is a loose, comfortable garment worn at home, usually over nightclothes or everyday clothes. In common use, the word often refers to a robe or dressing gown worn for warmth and comfort around the house. You might wear one while making breakfast, reading, answering the door to someone you know well, or doing small chores before getting fully dressed. Unlike an outdoor coat, it is made for indoor use and ease rather than weather protection.
The meaning can stretch a little depending on place and time. In older usage, especially in American English, it can also mean a simple informal dress made for wearing at home. That sense is less common now, but you may still see it in older books, films, catalogs, or conversations. This is one reason the word can feel slightly old-fashioned to some speakers.
Housecoats have been made from many fabrics, including cotton, flannel, fleece, quilted cloth, and sometimes silk. The word is strongly linked with home life, rest, and comfort. It often brings to mind slow mornings, quiet evenings, and a soft layer that helps someone feel relaxed but not entirely undressed. Today, many people might choose words like "robe" or "loungewear" instead, but "housecoat" is still understood and still used by some speakers. In short, it usually means a comfortable robe-like garment for wearing at home, and in older contexts it may also mean a simple house dress.
Examples
- 1
At the door
She answered the door in her housecoat and slippers.
- 2
Cold mornings
On cold mornings, he wears a thick housecoat over his pajamas.
- 3
Sleepwear section
The department store still sells cotton housecoats in the sleepwear section.
Grammar
The plural is usually housecoats.
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- housecoatnoun