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.
a similar band worn to hold up a shirt sleeve.
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.
British.
the badge of the Order of the Garter.
membership in the Order.
(initial capital letter) the Order itself.
(usually initial capital letter) a member of the Order.
a band, usually of elastic, worn round the arm or leg to hold up a shirtsleeve, sock, or stocking
an elastic strap attached to a belt or corset having a fastener at the end, for holding up women's stockings
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
See gut
(sometimes not capital)
the badge of this Order
membership of this Order
1300–50; Middle English < Old North French gartier, derivative of garet the bend of the knee < Celtic; compare Welsh gar shank, Breton gâr leg
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
“There was a lot of discontentment from people feeling pressure to do things they didn’t want, like the garter toss, or who had family members trying to make the event about them,” Mae recalls.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 6, 2025
The decision led not only to new habitat for the area’s endangered garter snake and threatened red-legged frog, but also a bike path alongside the creek for humans to enjoy.
From Slate ● May 26, 2025
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
One afternoon, Dallas and Florida gathered up dozens of ants, seven spiders, two garter snakes, and a frog, and that evening they deposited these treasures in the beds of the Burgerton boys.
From "Ruby Holler" by Sharon Creech
Andrew celebrated his birthday 12 months ago as Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, Earl of Inverness and Knight of the Garter.
From BBC ● Feb. 19, 2026
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 flag, linked to his membership of the Order of the Garter, which the prince gave up last week, was on display inside St George's Chapel but is no longer hanging there.
From BBC ● Oct. 24, 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
“Hi, G,” Garter Dixon says to me at Bennie’s after school.
From "Liar & Spy" by Rebecca Stead
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
But a Suffering Bastard or a Zombie doesn’t belong in a dark, speakeasy-inspired space, fussed over by an exacting bartender wearing arm garters.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 24, 2019
Lauren Swann, 35, of Venice, California, sews garters for good friends using strips of stretch lace and appliqués she finds on Etsy.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 6, 2018
Lauren Swann, 35, of Venice, Calif., sews garters for good friends using strips of stretch lace and appliqués she finds on Etsy.
From New York Times ● Sep. 4, 2018
He was leaning his elbows on the table, hair in eyes, his rumpled shirtsleeves held up with striped garters.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
