binder

noun

bind·​er ˈbīn-dər 

1

: a person or machine that binds something (such as books)

2

a

: something used in binding

b

: a usually detachable cover (as for holding sheets of paper)

3

: something (such as tar or cement) that produces or promotes cohesion in loosely assembled substances

4

: a temporary insurance contract that provides coverage until the policy is issued

5

: something (such as money) given in earnest

also : the agreement arrived at

6

: a tobacco leaf wrapped between the filler and wrapper of a cigar

Examples of binder in a Sentence

The egg in the recipe acts as a binder.

Recent Examples on the Web

That morning, staff members had prepared each station according to specifications laid out on laminated pages in a binder. —Lauren Collins, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024

Acting very similar to pasta sheets for lasagna, egg noodles in this ground beef casserole give structure and serve as a binder for the meat and cheese sauce mixtures. —Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2024

Brian Davis, assistant director and case manager for the Zoning Overlay District drafting, sat before the Planning Commission Thursday night with a stack of binders and folders nearly a foot tall ahead of the hearing. —Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 25 Mar. 2024

Like Shaw, Weyand has a binder where he's kept financial records, medical information, testimony, payments and correspondence with the nursing home, Trilogy, that took care of his dad. —Binghui Huang, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Mar. 2024

Then there is that contract from the Baltimore Bullets, which Denning Jr. has preserved in the binder. —Scott Talley, Detroit Free Press, 25 Feb. 2024

Ink is a nebulous material, Little explained in a phone call, made from nearly anything rich in pigments along with the binder gum Arabic. —Jacqui Palumbo, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024

Using a chest binder is generally safe when done correctly. —Lauren Rowello, Parents, 15 Mar. 2024

The career lady struggled toward us with an armful of binders. —Joseph O’Neill, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing binder

• ring binder

Kids Definition

binder

noun

bind·​er ˈbīn-dər 

1

: a person or machine that binds something (as books)

2

: a cover for holding together loose sheets of paper

3

: something that holds other substances together

use egg as a binder in meat loaf

Medical Definition

binder

noun

bind·​er ˈbīn-dər 

1

: a broad bandage applied (as about the chest or abdomen) for support

a breast binder

an obstetrical binder

2

: a substance (as glucose or acacia) used in pharmacy to hold together the ingredients of a compressed tablet

Legal Definition

binder

noun

bind·​er ˈbīn-dər 

1

: a temporary insurance contract that provides coverage until the policy is issued

2

: a receipt for money paid to the owner of real estate or to the owner's agent to secure the right to purchase the real estate upon agreed terms

also : the money itself