🌍 American vs British · vocabulary

raincoat vs mac

A waterproof coat worn to stay dry in wet weather.

American
raincoat

“Take a raincoat with you because the forecast says showers all afternoon.”

British
mac

“Take a mac with you because the forecast says showers all afternoon.”

Good to know

"Raincoat" is standard everywhere, but Britons often informally call one a "mac," short for mackintosh, after the original rubberised waterproof fabric. The slang "mac" is uncommon in American English.

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