Meaning & use
plastic mac
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountableBritishold-fashioned
A light raincoat made of thin waterproof plastic, worn to keep dry in wet weather.
Grammar: Countable: say a plastic mac, plastic macs.
Patterns
- wear a plastic mac
- put on a plastic mac
- a plastic mac over something
She folded her plastic mac into her bag in case it rained later.
The children were each given a plastic mac for the school trip to the coast.
He pulled the hood of his plastic mac up and stepped out into the downpour.
nouncountableBritish
A thin plastic cover that protects clothing or an object from water.
Grammar: Countable; often used for a protective cover rather than clothing.
Patterns
- a plastic mac for something
- use something as a plastic mac
He threw a plastic mac over the suitcase to keep it dry on the ferry.
The painters laid a plastic mac across the floor before they started.
Word forms
| plural | plastic macs |
|---|
Common combinations
- wear a plastic mac
- You should wear a plastic mac if the forecast says rain.
- a light plastic mac
- A light plastic mac is easy to carry in a backpack.
- put on a plastic mac
- She put on a plastic mac before walking the dog.
- a plastic mac over something
- He wore a plastic mac over his suit to protect it.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- mac noun
- British informal word for a raincoat of any material.
Commonly confused: plastic mac or mackintosh?
plastic mac vs mackintosh
An older British word for a raincoat, usually a smart cloth one, not a cheap plastic one.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'plastic mac' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A plastic mac is a piece of clothing, so it is worn to keep off rain. The other options use verbs that do not go with an item of clothing.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “plastic mac”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.