Meaning & use
hi-vis
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivebefore a nouninformalBritish
Made of bright, glowing material that makes the wearer easy to see, especially for safety.
Grammar: Used before a noun: a hi-vis jacket. It is not usually used after a verb.
Patterns
- hi-vis clothing
- hi-vis vest
- hi-vis jacket
All workers on the site must wear hi-vis vests.
She put on a hi-vis jacket before crossing the road.
The cyclist wore a hi-vis top to be seen in the dark.
noununcountableinformalBritish
Clothing made of bright, glowing material, worn for safety.
Grammar: Uncountable, so it has no plural and takes a singular verb: Hi-vis is required.
Patterns
- wear hi-vis
- in hi-vis
You can't enter the site without hi-vis.
He was dressed in hi-vis from head to toe.
The company provides hi-vis for all visitors.
Common combinations
- hi-vis vest
- The traffic officer wore a hi-vis vest.
- hi-vis jacket
- She grabbed a hi-vis jacket before going outside.
- hi-vis clothing
- Hi-vis clothing is mandatory in this area.
- wear hi-vis
- All cyclists should wear hi-vis at night.
Synonyms and how they differ
- reflective
- Reflective describes material that bounces light back, while hi-vis is a broader term for bright, easily seen safety clothing.
- fluorescent
- Fluorescent means giving off bright light, often used for colors; hi-vis specifically refers to safety gear.
Commonly confused: hi-vis or high-vis?
hi-vis vs high-vis
High-vis is a less common variant spelling of hi-vis; both mean the same thing.
Practice
Workers on the road must wear ___ so drivers can see them.
Choose one answer.
Hi-vis is the standard informal term for bright safety clothing. 'High-vis' is a variant but less common; 'high vision' and 'hi-vision' are not used in this meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “hi-vis”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.