garter

1 of 2

noun

gar·​ter ˈgär-tər How to pronounce garter (audio)
1
a
: a band worn to hold up a stocking or sock
b
: a band worn to hold up a shirt sleeve
c
: a strap hanging from a girdle or corset to support a stocking
2
capitalized
a
: the British Order of the Garter
also : the blue velvet garter that is its badge
b
: membership in the order

garter

2 of 2

verb

gartered; gartering; garters

transitive verb

: to support with or as if with a garter

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
At her wedding in Tampa last month, Cassie Roth didn’t toss her bouquet or a garter after the ceremony. Cathy Free, Washington Post, 16 Jan. 2023 And as DJ Wante from Level Up Entertainment provided the tunes, Tolman got ready for the traditional garter toss. Tricia Despres, PEOPLE.com, 23 Mar. 2022 In the snaps, captured by photographer Kevin Ostajewski, Hilton wore a lacy bralette with matching bottoms and a matching garter belt. Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 28 Dec. 2022 Knowles stood apart with a tennis-bracelet garter belt and earrings the size of tennis balls. Vulture, 27 Mar. 2022 Last week, Hyland hyped another accessory that played a significant part in her Aug. 20 wedding to the Bachelor in Paradise bartender — her garter! Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 30 Aug. 2022 In the video above, Mariana Tuma, Good Housekeeping's design director and textile crafts extraordinaire, demonstrates how to knit a garter stitch scarf from beginning to end. Mariah Thomas, Good Housekeeping, 11 Nov. 2022 Her husband wore a red bow tie and a garter on his white shirt sleeve, as well as a vintage black cap. Mary Jane Brewer, cleveland, 3 Oct. 2022 On the doll’s thigh, a fan reproduced Rosalía’s garter belt tattoo, a tribute to the Austrian feminist performance artist Valie Export. Suzy Expositostaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'garter.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French gareter, from garet thigh, shank, of Celtic origin; akin to Welsh gar shank

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of garter was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near garter

Cite this Entry

“Garter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/garter. Accessed 25 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

garter

noun
gar·​ter
ˈgärt-ər
: a band worn to hold up a stocking or sock

More from Merriam-Webster on garter

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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