fastening

American

[fas-uh-ning, fah-suh-] / ˈfæs ə nɪŋ, ˈfɑ sə- /

noun

something that fastens, as a lock or clasp.

fastening British

/ ˈfɑːsənɪŋ /

noun

something that fastens, such as a clasp or lock

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of fastening

Middle English word dating back to 1125–75; see origin at fasten, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Arciga fastens the headset over his black beanie and enables “Do Not Disturb” on his iPhone, before fastening the phone to his head to record.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026

The Irish government has always promised full cooperation with what is a UK statutory public inquiry and they would see this memorandum of understanding as copper fastening that.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2025

Kondo brought garments to life, like kites in the sky with voluminous silhouettes created by fastening and unfastening buttons.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 20, 2024

IL-6 delivers its message by fastening to IL-6 receptors within cells, which tells the cells to spread inflammation.

From Science Daily • Jan. 17, 2024

One of the women was embroidering a wedding sari, coiling gold thread along its borders and fastening it with the tiniest stitches imaginable.

From "Homeless Bird" by Gloria Whelan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023