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
According to the Feds, Porter was pressured into rigging games by people who were applying leverage to his existing gambling debts.
—
Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Stewart denied allegations that the pageant was rigged, and an internal investigation concluded no rigging took place.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
The 19th-century sailing ship with authentic rigging was built in a parking lot outside their Toronto studio, with an ice esplanade to get up to it.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025
The poker games The dozens of men (and one woman) accused of rigging poker games across the country over the last half-decade can’t be accused of using low-tech methods.
—Tom Winter, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rigging
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Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Stewart denied allegations that the pageant was rigged, and an internal investigation concluded no rigging took place.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
The 19th-century sailing ship with authentic rigging was built in a parking lot outside their Toronto studio, with an ice esplanade to get up to it.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025
The poker games The dozens of men (and one woman) accused of rigging poker games across the country over the last half-decade can’t be accused of using low-tech methods.
—Tom Winter, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rigging
Cite this Entry
“Rigging.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rigging. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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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