A light, thin jacket designed to protect against wind while remaining breathable, usually made of nylon or similar material.
A compound word combining 'wind' (Old English 'wind,' from Proto-Germanic) and 'breaker' (one that breaks). The term emerged in the 20th century as synthetic materials made it possible to create lightweight wind-resistant jackets.
Windbreakers were a product of mid-20th century textile innovation—nylon was invented in 1935, and companies quickly realized they could make water-resistant jackets by using tightly-woven nylon that blocks wind but lets sweat escape, creating a whole new category of athletic wear that didn't exist before synthetic fibers.
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