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

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

Wear your phone on a lanyard while in flight.

From Slate • Mar. 14, 2025

All attendees would also get a lanyard similar to the ones worn in the actual negotiations.

From New York Times • Jun. 18, 2024

An email has been sent to parliament staff saying "staff must wear a parliament-issued purple lanyard and remove pins and badges showing support for social movements and towards campaigns or organisations."

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2024

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