girth
Americannoun
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the measure around anything; circumference.
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a band that passes underneath a horse or other animal to hold a saddle in place, especially one having a buckle at each end for fastening to straps running from under the flaps of the saddle.
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something that encircles; a band or girdle.
verb (used with object)
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to bind or fasten with a girth.
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to girdle; encircle.
noun
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the distance around something; circumference
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size or bulk
a man of great girth
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a band around a horse's belly to keep the saddle in position
verb
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(usually foll by up) to fasten a girth on (a horse)
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(tr) to encircle or surround
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of girth
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English girth, gerth, from Old Norse gerth “girdle”; akin to gird 1
Explanation
The girth of something is the distance around its middle, and it usually refers to a person’s waist. If you get pregnant with twins, your girth will probably block your view of your toes. One can measure the girth of an airplane, tree trunk, or anything cylindrical, but it most often describes a large human waist. We don't usually describe a rail-thin person as having 'minuscule girth," — but when Aunt Velma has her seventh helping of lasagna and has to unbuckle her belt, she might announce, "My girth has outsized my attire!" Girth can also mean a strap that encircles the belly of a horse, mule, or other animal to secure a load.
Vocabulary lists containing girth
Chains
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"Paul Revere's Ride" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "G"
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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:
But he makes up for in vehemence what he lacks in girth.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 15, 2024
Yet he seems to have developed this superiority as much through charisma and kindness as from sheer girth.
From Salon ● May 27, 2024
He had the thrilling job of measuring the first shark’s length and girth.
From Scientific American ● Oct. 18, 2023
It celebrated all different body shapes — girth and all.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 7, 2023
She also saw that his uniform was slightly ill fitting, his girth stretching the scales of his armor.
From "When the Sea Turned to Silver" by Grace Lin
There’s a lot of hedging going on, though the science is real, the photography spectacular and the girths of the subjects prompt impolite questions: Are you pregnant?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
Richardson is a perfect example of the extent to which the sheer girths of owners’ egos are eclipsing what should be the NFL’s true narrative: the game.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 18, 2017
How to reconcile a lifestyle founded on getting fat and a need to convince others not to widen their own girths?
From Scientific American ● May 8, 2012
He disapproves of large girths in the Senate.
From Time Magazine Archive
Jarman Buckwell's scouts were tightening the girths on their saddles before setting out.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
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.
