Singlet vs. Vest — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 7, 2023
Singlet is a sleeveless athletic shirt, while a vest is a sleeveless upper-body garment, often worn over shirts.
Difference Between Singlet and Vest
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Singlet and Vest are both terms used to describe sleeveless garments, but they are distinct in their purposes and styles. A singlet is typically associated with athletic activities, especially wrestling or running. This is designed to fit closely to the body, ensuring minimal interference during movement. On the other hand, a vest is generally a more formal or casual piece, worn over shirts or blouses to add an extra layer.
When considering the material and design, singlets are often made from stretchy and moisture-wicking materials. This facilitates comfort during physical activities. Conversely, vests can be made from a variety of materials including wool, cotton, or silk, depending on the desired look and occasion. Singlets are about performance, while vests are about style.
Another distinction between a singlet and a vest lies in the realm of fashion. Singlets are rarely considered fashionable outside of their athletic contexts. They're chosen for function over form. Vests, however, are often chosen as a statement piece in an ensemble, whether it's a three-piece suit or a casual layer over a t-shirt.
Cultural references and regional terminologies can also affect the interpretation of the words singlet and vest. In some places, what Americans call a vest might be referred to as a "waistcoat." Similarly, in some regions, a singlet might simply be called a tank top. Both singlets and vests have their distinct places in clothing vocabularies worldwide.
Comparison Chart
Purpose
Athletic activities like wrestling or running.
Formal/casual layering over shirts.
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Material
Stretchy, moisture-wicking fabrics.
Various materials like wool or cotton.
Fashion
Chosen for function, rarely for style.
Often a statement piece in an ensemble.
Terminology
Sometimes referred to as a tank top.
Can be called a "waistcoat" in some regions.
Fit
Fits closely to the body.
Varies, can be fitted or loose.
Compare with Definitions
Singlet
A sleeveless athletic shirt.
He wore his singlet for the marathon.
Vest
A protective garment, like a bulletproof vest.
The police officer wore a vest for safety.
Singlet
A simple molecule with one unpaired electron.
In chemistry, a singlet state is quite interesting.
Vest
The right to possession or ownership.
The property will vest in the heir when he turns 18.
Singlet
A basic unitary item or individual.
The data consisted of several singlets.
Vest
A sleeveless garment, often having buttons down the front, worn usually over a shirt or blouse and sometimes as part of a three-piece suit.
Singlet
A sleeveless garment worn under or instead of a shirt; a vest.
Vest
A waist-length, sleeveless garment worn for protection
A warm down vest.
A bulletproof vest.
Singlet
A single unresolvable line in a spectrum, not part of a multiplet.
Vest
A fabric trim worn to fill in the neckline of a woman's garment; a vestee.
Singlet
An atomic or molecular state in which all electron spins are paired
Singlet oxygen
Vest
Chiefly British An undershirt.
Singlet
A sleeveless, tight-fitting undershirt or athletic shirt.
Vest
(Obsolete) An ecclesiastical vestment.
Singlet
A tight-fitting, one-piece garment consisting of shorts and a sleeveless top with a collar that sometimes dips low on the chest, worn in wrestling.
Vest
To place (authority, property, or rights, for example) in the control of a person or group, especially to give someone an immediate right to present or future possession or enjoyment of (an estate, for example). Used with in
Vested his estate in his daughter.
Singlet
(Physics) A multiplet with a single member.
Vest
To invest or endow (a person or group) with something, such as power or rights. Used with with
Vested the council with broad powers.
Vests its employees with full pension rights after five years of service.
Singlet
A set of one, an item not part of a larger set, particularly
Vest
To clothe or robe, as in ecclesiastical vestments.
Singlet
(physics) A multiplet having a single member, especially a single spectroscopic peak.
Vest
To become legally vested
Stock options that vest after the second year of employment.
Singlet
A quantum state having zero spin.
Vest
To dress oneself, especially in ecclesiastical vestments.
Singlet
A person who does not have a form of multiplicity, i.e. a single persona occupying one human body.
Vest
(North America) A sleeveless garment that buttons down the front, worn over a shirt, and often as part of a suit; a waistcoat.
Singlet
A single piece of clothing, particularly
Vest
(British) A sleeveless garment, often with a low-cut neck, usually worn under a shirt or blouse.
Singlet
A sleeveless buttonless shirt with a low-cut neck.
Vest
A sleeveless top, typically with identifying colours or logos, worn by an athlete or member of a sports team.
Singlet
(sports) A one-piece, tight-fitting uniform, usually made of spandex or nylon, required in wrestling and powerlifting.
Vest
Any sleeveless outer garment, often for a purpose such as identification, safety, or storage.
Singlet
An unlined or undyed waistcoat; a single garment; - opposed to doublet.
Vest
A vestment.
Singlet
A collarless men's undergarment for the upper part of the body
Vest
Clothing generally; array; garb.
Singlet
A one-piece garment combining a tank top with briefs.
The wrestler wore his singlet for the match.
Vest
A loose robe or outer garment worn historically by men in Arab or Middle Eastern countries.
Singlet
A single, unpaired item.
She found a singlet sock in the laundry.
Vest
(chiefly passive) To clothe with, or as with, a vestment, or garment; to dress; to robe; to cover, surround, or encompass closely.
Vest
To clothe with authority, power, etc.; to put in possession; to invest; to furnish; to endow; followed by with and the thing conferred.
To vest a court with power to try cases of life and death
Vest
To place or give into the possession or discretion of some person or authority; to commit to another; with in before the possessor.
The power of life and death is vested in the king, or in the courts.
Vest
(legal) To clothe with possession; also, to give a person an immediate fixed right of present or future enjoyment of.
To vest a person with an estate
An estate is vested in possession
Vest
(of an inheritance or a trust fund) To devolve upon the person currently entitled when a prior interest has ended.
Upon the death of the Sovereign the Crown automatically vests in the next heir without the need of coronation or other formality.
Vest
To become vested, to become permanent.
My pension vests at the end of the month and then I can take it with me when I quit.
Vest
(obsolete) To invest; to put.
To vest money in goods, land, or houses
Vest
An article of clothing covering the person; an outer garment; a vestment; a dress; a vesture; a robe.
In state attended by her maiden train,Who bore the vests that holy rites require.
Vest
Any outer covering; array; garb.
Not seldom clothed in radiant vestDeceitfully goes forth the morn.
Vest
Specifically, a waistcoat, or sleeveless body garment, for men, worn under the coat.
Vest
To clothe with, or as with, a vestment, or garment; to dress; to robe; to cover, surround, or encompass closely.
Came vested all in white, pure as her mind.
With ether vested, and a purple sky.
Vest
To clothe with authority, power, or the like; to put in possession; to invest; to furnish; to endow; - followed by with before the thing conferred; as, to vest a court with power to try cases of life and death.
Had I been vested with the monarch's power.
Vest
To place or give into the possession or discretion of some person or authority; to commit to another; - with in before the possessor; as, the power of life and death is vested in the king, or in the courts.
Empire and dominion was [were] vested in him.
Vest
To invest; to put; as, to vest money in goods, land, or houses.
Vest
To clothe with possession; as, to vest a person with an estate; also, to give a person an immediate fixed right of present or future enjoyment of; as, an estate is vested in possession.
Vest
To come or descend; to be fixed; to take effect, as a title or right; - followed by in; as, upon the death of the ancestor, the estate, or the right to the estate, vests in the heir at law.
Vest
A man's sleeveless garment worn underneath a coat
Vest
A collarless men's undergarment for the upper part of the body
Vest
Provide with power and authority;
They vested the council with special rights
Vest
Place (authority, property, or rights) in the control of a person or group of persons;
She vested her vast fortune in her two sons
Vest
Become legally vested;
The property vests in the trustees
Vest
Clothe oneself in ecclesiastical garments
Vest
Clothe formally; especially in ecclesiastical robes
Vest
A sleeveless upper-body garment.
He wore a vest over his shirt to the interview.
Vest
An undershirt or waistcoat.
Under his suit, he always wore a vest for added warmth.
Vest
A short, close-fitting jacket.
She wore her vest to the motorcycle rally.
Common Curiosities
Can singlets be considered formal wear?
No, singlets are typically for athletic purposes and not considered formal.
What is a singlet primarily used for?
A singlet is primarily used for athletic activities like wrestling or running.
When might someone wear a vest?
Someone might wear a vest as a part of formal attire, for added warmth, or as a fashion statement.
Are all singlets tight-fitting?
While many singlets are designed to fit closely, not all are tight-fitting.
Is a vest the same as a waistcoat?
In American English, a vest can be synonymous with a waistcoat, but the terminology varies by region.
Can vests be protective garments?
Yes, there are protective vests like bulletproof vests or safety vests.
Can a vest be an undershirt?
Yes, in some contexts, "vest" refers to an undershirt.
Are all vests sleeveless?
Yes, by definition, vests are sleeveless upper-body garments.
Can "singlet" refer to a single, unpaired item?
Yes, "singlet" can mean a single, unpaired item, especially in contexts like laundry.
Are singlets and tank tops the same?
They can be similar, but singlets are primarily athletic while tank tops can be casual wear.
What material is a singlet usually made of?
Singlets are often made from stretchy, moisture-wicking fabrics.
What's another name for a vest in some regions?
In some regions, a vest is referred to as a "waistcoat."
Do vests always button up the front?
While many vests do, not all vests button up the front.
Do singlets cover the lower body?
Some singlets, especially for wrestling, combine a tank top with briefs to cover the lower body.
Are singlets and vests interchangeable in fashion?
No, singlets are athletic wear while vests are more versatile, ranging from casual to formal attire.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
