lanyard

American  

[lan-yerd] / ˈlæn yərd /

Or laniard

noun

1. Nautical. a short rope or wire rove through deadeyes to hold and tauten standing rigging.

2. any of various small cords or ropes for securing or suspending something, as a whistle about the neck or a knife from one's belt.

3. a cord with a small hook at one end, used in firing certain kinds of cannon.

4. a colored, single-strand cord worn around the left shoulder by a member of a military unit awarded a foreign decoration.

5. a white cord worn around the right shoulder, as by a military police officer, and secured to the butt of a pistol.

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lanyard British  

/ ˈlænjəd /

noun

1. a cord worn around the neck, shoulder, etc, to hold something such as a whistle or knife

2. a similar but merely decorative cord worn as part of a military uniform

3. a cord with an attached hook used in firing certain types of cannon

4. nautical a line rove through deadeyes for extending or tightening standing rigging

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Etymology

Origin of lanyard

1475–85; blend of late Middle English lanyer (< Middle French laniere, Old French lasniere thong, equivalent to lasne noose + -iere, feminine of -ier -ier ² ) and yard ¹

Example Sentences

He showed her a fake BBC lanyard and identification card and on one occasion the woman walked with him to BBC Cymru Wales' headquarters in Central Square where he claimed to work in TV production.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

Shortly after taking bronze in the parallel giant slalom Sunday, Bulgarian snowboarder Tervel Zamfirov was running when the medal detached from the lanyard.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 10, 2026

Bietz also denied accusations that he was carrying a knife on the beach, saying that the object photographed in his hand was likely either a stick, his phone or the lanyard attached to his keys.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 2, 2025

Wear your phone on a lanyard while in flight.

From Slate • Mar. 14, 2025

There was a clip at the end of the lanyard, and onto this I hooked the key ring.

From "Bad Boy" by Walter Dean Myers