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

In Indonesia, a stringer walks through a village, or at least what was once a village before the mud flowed down from a forest and swept the village along with it. —Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026

It’s also made Boston’s defense more susceptible, as Vucevic and third-stringer Luka Garza both are downgrades at that end. —Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026

With Blackwell, the Bears have a good group of second-stringers, and Frazier, who missed his entire rookie year because of a personal issue, might be under the microscope this summer, his first training camp after being a fifth-round pick in 2025. —Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2026

Simmons did not mention Clayton Dees, who is believed to be the fourth-stringer. —Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026

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)