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
Dominion, as a company, has filed multiple lawsuits over allegations that it was involved in election rigging.
—
Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 2 June 2025
Motion platform The spinning base is especially noteworthy, because it's built to easily support a large vehicle, along with a modular rigging system to fit cameras and lights.
—New Atlas, 17 Jan. 2025
Mexican navy tall ship Cuauhtémoc crew dangle from rigging after striking NYC bridge
Crew members of the Mexican navy tall ship Cuauhtémoc dangle from the ship’s rigging after striking the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City on Saturday night.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2025
Even by Paramount’s high standards, this is an eye-popping show, replete with elaborate rigging, grand illusions and all manner of circus activities put together by director Trent Stork, choreographer Kasey Alfonso and circus specialist Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rigging
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 2 June 2025
Motion platform The spinning base is especially noteworthy, because it's built to easily support a large vehicle, along with a modular rigging system to fit cameras and lights.
—New Atlas, 17 Jan. 2025
Mexican navy tall ship Cuauhtémoc crew dangle from rigging after striking NYC bridge
Crew members of the Mexican navy tall ship Cuauhtémoc dangle from the ship’s rigging after striking the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City on Saturday night.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2025
Even by Paramount’s high standards, this is an eye-popping show, replete with elaborate rigging, grand illusions and all manner of circus activities put together by director Trent Stork, choreographer Kasey Alfonso and circus specialist Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 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 14 Jun. 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)
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share