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 the documentary, journalists and investigators say that based on news reel footage of the road in Trảng Bàng, where the photo was taken on June 8, 1972, a stringer named Nguyễn Thành Nghệ took the iconic photo of Phan Thị Kim Phúc, not Ut. —Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 28 Nov. 2025

Their third stringers would be in the rotation most places. —Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Nov. 2025

The third-stringer, a freshman, just suffered a concussion. —Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025

The organization, before furloughs earlier this year, consisted of 400 full-time staff and 500 stringers and contractors. —Max Rego, The Hill, 30 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)