stringer

noun

string·​er ˈstriŋ-ər 

1

: one that strings

2

: a string, wire, or chain often with snaps on which fish are strung by a fisherman

3

: a narrow vein or irregular filament of mineral traversing a rock mass of different material

4

a

: a long horizontal timber to connect uprights in a frame or to support a floor

b

: string sense 8

c

: a tie in a truss

5

a

: a longitudinal member extending from bent to bent of a railroad bridge and carrying the track

b

: a longitudinal member (as in an airplane fuselage or wing) to reinforce the skin

6

a

: a news correspondent who is paid space rates

b

: a reporter who works for a publication or news agency on a part-time basis

broadly : correspondent

7

: one estimated to be of specified excellence or efficiency

—used in combination

first-stringer

second-stringer

Examples of stringer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Frustrated at not being able to win and stay in the forefront of the SEC and playoff race, but happy that Missouri played well enough to win, despite being down to a freshman QB who began the season as a third-stringer. —Seth Emerson, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025

With Devils mainstay goalie Jacob Markstrom sidelined due to a lower body injury, third-stringer Nico Daws made his first start of the season for New Jersey and stopped 29 shots. —Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 23 Oct. 2025

As a Columbus sophomore, Mendoza started out as a fourth-stringer and had to wait his turn behind Brandon McDuffie, a senior captain in 2019. —Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2025

Baker Mayfield’s Buccaneers made moving the ball look easy, even with their third-stringers playing wide receiver and backups at running back and key offensive line spots. —Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for stringer

• bringer
• clinger
• dinger
• inger
• ringer
• slinger
• springer
• stinger
• winger
• wringer

Kids Definition

stringer

noun

string·​er ˈstriŋ-ər 

1

: one that strings

2

: a long piece of wood or metal used for support or strengthening in a building (as under a floor)