hanger-on

noun

hang·​er-on ˈhaŋ-ər-ˌȯn 

-ˌän

plural hangers-on

: one that hangs around a person, place, or institution especially for personal gain

Synonyms of hanger-on

• parasite
• henchman
• sponge

Examples of hanger-on in a Sentence

almost overnight, the singer was a star, and almost overnight, he was surrounded by hangers-on who wanted something

Recent Examples on the Web

The book orbits around an art scandal that pulls in collectors, curators, philosophers and hangers-on. —CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026

A number of presences, including Hunter Schafer‘s busybody assistant and Kaia Gerber’s entourage hanger-on, flit about on the periphery while the leads conversationally duke it out. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Apr. 2026

The world has gotten a glimpse of the fawning, skeezy shamelessness of his famous hangers-on, but not enough to criminally implicate them. —Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026

Callie is popular and vivacious, perpetually surrounded by admirers and various hangers-on (Audrey Grace Marshall’s Cara is hellbent on usurping Minnie’s place in Callie’s life, while her himbo-esque boyfriend Brad is given wonderful dimension through Beck Nolan’s sneaky-good performance). —Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hanger-on

• aileron
• antiphon
• autobahn
• carillon
• castellan
• celadon
• cephalon
• chitosan
• cynodon
• denouement
• deuteron
• echelon

Kids Definition

hanger-on

noun

hang·​er-on

ˈhaŋ-ə-ˌrȯn, 

-ˌrän

plural hangers-on

: one that spends time around a person, place, or institution in hope of personal gain