suspender

UK: /səˈspɛndə^r/ US: /səˈspɛndɚ/ ,(sə spen′dər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

sus•pend•er /səˈspɛndɚ/   n. [countable]

1. Clothing Usually, suspenders.Also called,[esp. Brit.,] braces. [plural] adjustable straps or bands worn over the shoulders with the ends secured to the waistband of a skirt or a pair of trousers to support it:
   a pair of red suspenders.
2. Clothing, British Terms [Brit.] a garter.

See -pend-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

sus•pend•er  (sə spen′dər), n. 

1. Clothing Usually, suspenders. Also called,[esp. Brit.,] braces. adjustable straps or bands worn over the shoulders with the ends buttoned or clipped to the waistband of a pair of trousers or a skirt to support it.
2. Clothing, British Terms [Brit.] garter.
3. Civil Engineering a hanging cable or chain in a suspension bridge connecting the deck with the suspension cable or chain.
4. a person or thing that suspends.

• 1515–25; 1800–10, American. for def. 1; suspend + -er¹

sus•pend′er•less, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

suspender / səˈspɛndə/ noun

1. (often plural) an elastic strap attached to a belt or corset having a fastener at the end, for holding up women's stockings
2. a similar fastener attached to a garter worn by men in order to support socks
3. (plural) a pair of straps worn over the shoulders by men for holding up the trousers
   Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): braces
4. a person or thing that suspends, such as one of the vertical cables that carries the deck in a suspension bridge

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

gar•ter /ˈgɑrtɚ/   n. [countable]

1. Clothing an article of clothing for holding up a stocking, as an elastic band worn around the leg.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

gar•ter  (gär′tər), n. 

1. Clothing Also called,[Brit.,] sock suspender, suspender. an article of clothing for holding up a stocking or sock, usually an elastic band around the leg or an elastic strap hanging from a girdle or other undergarment.
2. Clothing a similar band worn to hold up a shirt sleeve.
3. Clothing a leather strap for passing through a loop at the back of a boot and buckling around the leg to keep the boot from slipping.
4. British Terms
   • the badge of the Order of the Garter.
   • membership in the Order.
   • (cap.) the Order itself.
   • (usually cap.) a member of the Order.

v.t. 

5. to fasten with a garter.

• Celtic; compare Welsh gar shank, Breton gâr leg
• Old North French gartier, derivative of garet the bend of the knee
• Middle English 1300–50

gar′ter•less, adj.