1
a
: lines and chains used aboard a ship especially in working sail and supporting masts and spars
b
: a similar network (as in theater scenery) used for support and manipulation
2
: clothing
Examples of rigging in a Sentence
They checked the rigging before they set sail.
even at the Ivies they dress in the standard rigging of the college student: T-shirt and jeans
Recent Examples on the Web
Standing at around one metre tall and less than half a metre in diameter, it is designed to integrate into existing rigging without interfering with sails or deck operations.
—
Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 20 Jan. 2026
After the machines failed, in a blow to pro-democracy activists who have long demanded their use to curb rigging, polling officials used manual registers of votes.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
The disaster has raised questions about bid-rigging and corruption, as well as negligence by government officials, who have cited substandard mesh netting, polystyrene boards that were sealed to the windows and fire alarm failures as major factors in the fire’s start and rapid spread.
—Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 16 Jan. 2026
Major League Baseball was hit with a scandal focusing on pitch rigging just weeks later.
—Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rigging
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Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 20 Jan. 2026
After the machines failed, in a blow to pro-democracy activists who have long demanded their use to curb rigging, polling officials used manual registers of votes.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2026
The disaster has raised questions about bid-rigging and corruption, as well as negligence by government officials, who have cited substandard mesh netting, polystyrene boards that were sealed to the windows and fire alarm failures as major factors in the fire’s start and rapid spread.
—Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 16 Jan. 2026
Major League Baseball was hit with a scandal focusing on pitch rigging just weeks later.
—Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rigging
Cite this Entry
“Rigging.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rigging. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rigging
noun
rig·ging
ˈrig-iŋ 
-ən
1
: the ropes and chains used aboard a ship especially in working sail and supporting masts and spars
2
: equipment for supporting and working something (as theater scenery)
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