livery

1 of 2

noun

liv·​ery ˈli-və-rē 

ˈliv-rē

plural liveries

1

a

: a concern offering vehicles (such as boats) for rent

a canoe livery

an automobile livery

b

: the feeding, stabling, and care of horses for pay

c

: livery stable

2

a

chiefly British : an identifying design (as on a vehicle) that designates ownership

b

: a servant's uniform

c

: the distinctive clothing or badge formerly worn by the retainers (see retainer entry 1 sense 1) of a person of rank

d

: distinctive dress : garb

a nun's traditional livery

3

: the act of delivering legal possession of property

4

archaic : the apportioning of provisions especially to servants : allowance

5

archaic

a

: one's retainers or retinue

b

: the members of a British livery company

livery

2 of 2

adjective

1

: resembling liver

2

: suggesting liver disorder

Synonyms of livery

Noun

• uniform

Examples of livery in a Sentence

Noun

the limousine chauffeur was easily distinguished from the cab drivers by his livery

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Cadillac opted to introduce itself in one of the most American ways possible, by revealing its season livery in a Super Bowl advertisement during the fourth quarter of the Seattle Seahawks-New England Patriots matchup. —Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026

The Hollywood Reporter has learned the Cadillac Formula 1 team will have a commercial during the 4th quarter of Sunday’s Super Bowl, using the game to debut the livery for its high-tech race cars, while teeing up Apple’s F1 ambitions in the process. —Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Feb. 2026

Adjective

The Detroit automaker is using the Super Bowl to launch its Cadillac F1 team, including revealing the look of its first livery car to a national audience. —Michael Wayland, CNBC, 7 Feb. 2026

In that case, Imani Williams, 26, was charged with manslaughter for allegedly blowing a light and killing a livery cab driver at Webster Ave. —Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English livere, liverie, liverey "delivery, handing over, bestowing of clothes, food, insignia, etc., on retainers and servants, allowance of food and drink, official garb of guild members," borrowed from Anglo-French liveré, liveree "delivery, disbursement, allowance, sanction, livery garment, guild," noun derivative from feminine of liverer, livrer (continental Old French livrer) "to deliver, set free, hand over, convey, supply with provisions," going back to Latin līberāre "to give free status to (a slave), release from restraint, set free" — more at liberate

Adjective

liver entry 1 + -y entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Adjective

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing livery

• livery company
• livery stable

Rhymes for livery

• delivery
• herbivory
• nondelivery
• redelivery

Kids Definition

livery

noun

liv·​ery

ˈliv-(ə-)rē

plural liveries

1

: a special uniform worn by the servants of a wealthy household

a footman in livery

2

: the clothing worn to distinguish an association of persons

the livery of a school

3

a

: the feeding, care, and stabling of horses for pay

b

: the keeping of horses and vehicles for hire

c

: livery stable

Medical Definition

livery

adjective

liv·​ery ˈliv-ə-rē 

: suggesting liver disorder : liverish