Vest vs. Briefs — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 3, 2023
A vest is a sleeveless garment worn on the upper body, while briefs are a type of underwear for the lower body.
Difference Between Vest and Briefs
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Key Differences
A vest is worn on the upper part of the body; it can be a formal garment as part of a three-piece suit or functional like a bulletproof vest. Briefs are undergarments designed to be worn around the lower body, under pants or other clothing.
Vests may be a style statement or provide warmth without the bulk of sleeves, often worn over a shirt. Briefs prioritize comfort and support, being made of elastic material to snugly fit the wearer's form.
The vest is visible attire and contributes to the outward appearance and formal dress codes, unlike briefs, which are private and not meant to be seen in public settings.
Fashion dictates the design and wear of vests, ranging from casual to formal wear, whereas briefs are designed for practicality, focusing on personal hygiene and comfort.
Vests can have varying lengths and styles, some with buttons and pockets, whereas briefs are generally of a standard shape with variations mostly in waistband style and fabric.
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Comparison Chart
Part of Clothing
Upper body garment.
Undergarment for the lower body.
Function
Style, warmth, or protection.
Comfort and support.
Visibility
Typically visible when worn.
Usually not visible when worn.
Styles
Vary from formal to casual.
Generally standard with minor variations.
Material
Can vary widely.
Typically stretchy, soft fabrics.
Compare with Definitions
Vest
Part of formal attire
Her matching vest and pants looked sharp.
Briefs
Tight-fitting underwear
He bought cotton briefs for comfort.
Vest
Fashion accessory
He added a vest to accent his outfit.
Briefs
Men's lower body wear
His drawer was full of black briefs.
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.
Briefs
Snug underpants
He preferred briefs over boxers.
Vest
A waist-length, sleeveless garment worn for protection
A warm down vest.
A bulletproof vest.
Briefs
Briefs or a brief are a type of short, form-fitting underwear and swimwear, as opposed to styles where material extends down the thighs. Briefs have various different styles, usually with a waistband attached to fabric that runs along the pelvis to the crotch and buttocks, and are worn by both men and women.
Vest
A fabric trim worn to fill in the neckline of a woman's garment; a vestee.
Briefs
Short, close-fitting underpants or knickers
A pair of blue briefs
Vest
Chiefly British An undershirt.
Briefs
Short in time, duration, length, or extent.
Vest
(Obsolete) An ecclesiastical vestment.
Briefs
Succinct; concise
A brief account of the incident.
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.
Briefs
Curt; abrupt
We were upset because he was so brief with us.
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.
Briefs
A short, succinct statement.
Vest
To clothe or robe, as in ecclesiastical vestments.
Briefs
A condensation or an abstract of a larger document or series of documents.
Vest
To become legally vested
Stock options that vest after the second year of employment.
Briefs
(Law) A document concisely stating the legal points being made, including often the citation and explanation of supporting legal authority.
Vest
To dress oneself, especially in ecclesiastical vestments.
Briefs
Roman Catholic Church A papal letter that is not as formal as a bull.
Vest
(North America) A sleeveless garment that buttons down the front, worn over a shirt, and often as part of a suit; a waistcoat.
Briefs
A briefing.
Vest
(British) A sleeveless garment, often with a low-cut neck, usually worn under a shirt or blouse.
Briefs
Often briefs Short, tight-fitting underpants.
Vest
A sleeveless top, typically with identifying colours or logos, worn by an athlete or member of a sports team.
Briefs
Briefs Chiefly British The instructions that are given to explain a task or assignment.
Vest
Any sleeveless outer garment, often for a purpose such as identification, safety, or storage.
Briefs
To give instructions or preparatory information to
Briefed the astronauts before the mission.
Vest
A vestment.
Briefs
To summarize.
Vest
Clothing generally; array; garb.
Briefs
Plural of brief
Vest
A loose robe or outer garment worn historically by men in Arab or Middle Eastern countries.
Briefs
A very short, close-fitting type of underpants.
Vest
(chiefly passive) To clothe with, or as with, a vestment, or garment; to dress; to robe; to cover, surround, or encompass closely.
Briefs
Short tight-fitting underpants (trade name Jockey)
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
Briefs
Supportive undergarment
Athletes often wear briefs for extra support.
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.
Briefs
Brief-style swimwear
He chose briefs for the swim competition.
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
Sleeveless upper body garment
He wore a tweed vest over his shirt.
Vest
Outerwear for protection
The safety vest was bright orange.
Vest
Symbolic garment
The volunteers wore green vests.
Common Curiosities
Can women wear vests?
Yes, vests are unisex and can be worn by both men and women.
How do you choose the right size vest?
The right size vest should fit comfortably over the torso, allowing for movement without excess bulk.
Is a vest always part of formal wear?
No, vests can be both formal and casual, depending on the style and material.
What materials are briefs made from?
Briefs are often made from materials like cotton, modal, or synthetic blends for stretch and comfort.
Can briefs be worn for swimming?
Yes, swim briefs are specifically designed for swimming.
What are briefs?
Briefs are a type of men's underwear that provides support and comfort, fitting snugly around the waist and groin.
Are briefs the same as boxers?
No, briefs are tighter and offer more support than the looser-fitting boxers.
How often should briefs be replaced?
Briefs should be replaced when they start to lose elasticity or show signs of wear.
What is a vest?
A vest is a sleeveless upper-body garment that can be worn for style, warmth, or protection.
Are vests considered outerwear?
Vests can be outerwear or part of a layered outfit, depending on their style and function.
Do vests have sleeves?
No, vests are characterized by their sleeveless design.
What occasions are appropriate for wearing a vest?
Vests can be worn on various occasions, from casual outings to formal events.
Are briefs appropriate for all activities?
Briefs are versatile but some activities like swimming or athletics may require specialized briefs.
Do all men's briefs have a front opening?
Not all briefs have a front opening; some are designed without one for a seamless look.
Can vests have pockets?
Yes, many vests have pockets for functionality and design.
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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.
