noun
swim ring; life buoy
A ring-shaped flotation device used for play in water or as a safety aid.
子供がプールで浮き輪を使って遊んでいる。
The children are playing in the pool with swim rings.
船には浮き輪が備え付けられている。
A life buoy is equipped on the boat.
Rarely used kanji form.
Refers to a life jacket (worn on the body), while 浮き輪 is a ring-shaped flotation device.
Compound of 浮き (uki, 'floating') + 輪 (wa, 'ring').