buttonhole

1 of 4

noun (1)

but·​ton·​hole ˈbə-tᵊn-ˌhōl 

1

: a slit or loop through which a button is passed

2

chiefly British : boutonniere

buttonhole

2 of 4

verb (1)

buttonholed; buttonholing; buttonholes

transitive verb

1

: to furnish with buttonholes

2

: to work with buttonhole stitch

buttonholer

ˈbə-tᵊn-ˌhō-lər 

noun

buttonhole

3 of 4

verb (2)

buttonholed; buttonholing; buttonholes

transitive verb

: to detain in conversation by or as if by holding on to the outer garments of

buttonholer

4 of 4

noun (2)

but·​ton·​hol·​er ˈbə-tᵊn-ˌhō-lər 

1

: one that makes buttonholes by hand or machine

2

: a sewing-machine attachment for making buttonholes

Did you know?

Buttonhole is easy to pin down as a noun referring to the slit or loop through which a button is passed to fasten something, but its shift to a verb meaning "to detain in conversation" requires some explanation. Buttonhole is an alteration of another verb now long out of use: buttonhold, which literally meant to hold on to the buttons or lapels of someone's coat when speaking to him or her. In the mid-19th century, English speakers altered the verb to buttonhole, perhaps as a result of hearing buttonhold as buttonholed. The overlap is apparent in an early instance of this spelling in an 1862 London publication called All Year Round: "The man who is button-holed, or held … and must listen to half an hour's harangue about nothing interesting."

Examples of buttonhole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

When a maid stood directly facing a noblewoman to dress her, buttons on the wearer’s left side were lined up perfectly for the maid to use her dominant right hand to fit them into the buttonholes. —Caroline Kobia, The Conversation, 21 May 2026

Afterward, the garments are made locally by a single jacket maker, trouser maker and buttonhole-finisher—each is touched by just four individuals. —Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 20 May 2026

Verb

Not allowing anyone to buttonhole them, or define them, or limit them. —Danielle Parker, CBS News, 5 June 2026

All of this came to mind when Rama, attending Trump’s initial Peace Board meeting at the White House a week ago, buttonholed Trump to talk about Smith and Thaci, who has been in detention for almost six years. —Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 28 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb (2)

alteration of buttonhold

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1852, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1848, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing buttonhole

• buttonhole stitch

Rhymes for buttonhole

• amphibole
• asystole
• casserole
• centriole
• decontrol
• glycerol
• metropole
• monopole
• multipole
• omeprazole
• oriole
• petiole

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Kids Definition

buttonhole

1 of 2 noun

but·​ton·​hole ˈbət-ᵊn-ˌhōl 

: a slit or loop for fastening a button

buttonhole

2 of 2 verb

buttonholed; buttonholing

: to detain in conversation by or as if by holding on to the clothes of