garter
noun
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.
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garter
American
[gahr-ter]
/ ˈgɑr tər /
noun
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garters
plural
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British, 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.
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a similar band worn to hold up a shirt sleeve.
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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.
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British.
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the badge of the Order of the Garter.
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membership in the Order.
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(initial capital letter) the Order itself.
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(usually initial capital letter) a member of the Order.
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verb (used with object)
garter
1
British
/ ˈɡɑːtə /
noun
-
a band, usually of elastic, worn round the arm or leg to hold up a shirtsleeve, sock, or stocking
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-
an elastic strap attached to a belt or corset having a fastener at the end, for holding up women's stockings
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Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): suspender. a similar fastener attached to a garter belt worn by men in order to support socks
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See gut
verb
Garter
2
British
/ ˈɡɑːtə /
noun
-
(sometimes not capital)
-
the badge of this Order
-
membership of this Order
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Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of garter
1300–50; Middle English < Old North French gartier, derivative of garet the bend of the knee < Celtic; compare Welsh gar shank, Breton gâr leg
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.
See Examples For:
When mice invaded his house, he didn’t poison them but enlisted the help of a garter snake he found outside.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2025
The Sierra garter snake told us this is not the case.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 25, 2025
Lacking Spotify, they decided to pass the time by undertaking “an enumeration and actual count” of road-killed animals—a battered weasel here, a flattened garter snake there.
From Slate ● May 25, 2024
For the first time, researchers — employing an innovative twist on the mirror test — have found evidence that garter snakes can distinguish themselves from others, using not sight but scent.
From New York Times ● Apr. 3, 2024
On Tuesday, Missy saw a garter snake slithering through the grass behind the blacktop.
From "I Survived the Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980" by Lauren Tarshis
Andrew will also lose his Order of the Garter, the most senior knighthood in the British realm.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2025
The honours of Order of the Garter and Knight Grand Cross of the Victorian Order will also be removed.
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2025
He also gave up membership of the Order of the Garter, the oldest and most senior order of chivalry in Britain, although Buckingham Palace remains under pressure to take stronger action against him.
From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2025
He also gave up his membership of the prestigious Order of the Garter.
From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2025
Garter Dixon and Dallas Llewellyn are getting angry.
From "Liar & Spy" by Rebecca Stead
Every star who has taken up the character’s corset and garters since has followed his lead.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026
Men could wear blouses and shirts on the outside, while women could do away with their corsets, stockings, and garters.
From National Geographic ● Jan. 9, 2024
Elasticized waistbands, knee-high socks and garters, painted a picture of comfortable chic.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 24, 2023
Fitting In With the Neighbors The room is very dark and very red, the lampshades crinkled like garters, the walls sheathed in brocade.
From New York Times ● Jul. 11, 2013
A man with garters on his arms played a piano, and a woman with gloves that came up past her elbows kept hurrying over to light Dad’s cigarettes.
From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls
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