Weatherproof means able to resist damage from rain, snow, wind, and other outdoor conditions. A weatherproof jacket keeps you dry in a downpour. A weatherproof camera can handle getting splashed or snowed on without breaking.

The word tells you something can handle normal weather exposure, though it doesn't necessarily mean waterproof or able to survive extreme conditions. A weatherproof tent will keep you comfortable in steady rain, but might struggle in a hurricane. Weatherproof boots protect your feet from puddles and mud.

Engineers design many outdoor products to be weatherproof: mailboxes that won't rust, speakers that can sit on a patio, lights that work in storms. Your phone might survive a few raindrops, but it's probably not weatherproof, which is why getting caught in a storm with it in your pocket can make you nervous.

When you weatherproof something, you're treating or building it to resist weather damage. You might weatherproof a wooden deck by applying a protective coating, or weatherproof a window by sealing gaps where wind and water could sneak through.