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

The list got longer Saturday, with Marcus Mariota injuring his throwing hand in the third quarter, leaving third-stringer Josh Johnson as Washington’s remaining quarterback (Sam Hartman, the fourth-stringer, wasn’t active). —David Aldridge, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025

Defensive back Cooper DeJean had a key interception of third-stringer Josh Johnson with 32 seconds left in the third quarter. —CBS News, 21 Dec. 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. —Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 14 Dec. 2025

Additive manufacturing allows load-bearing structures to follow curved, organic geometries dictated by optimization algorithms rather than the straight ribs and stringers of traditional airframes. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 11 Dec. 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)