livery

¹ American  

[liv-uh-ree, liv-ree] / ˈlɪv ə ri, ˈlɪv ri /

noun

liveries plural

1. the care, feeding, stabling, etc., of horses for pay.

2. Also called livery stable.  a stable where horses are cared for or rented out for pay.

3. a company that rents out automobiles, boats, etc.

4. a distinctive design or color scheme that marks something, especially a bus, train, airplane, etc., as belonging to a particular company or organization.

   This airline's red-and-blue livery makes its planes easy to spot.

5. a distinctive uniform, badge, or device formerly provided for servants.

6. 1. distinctive attire worn by an official, a member of a company or guild, etc.

   2. Also called livery company.  British. a guild or company of the City of London entitled to wear such livery.

7. characteristic dress or outward appearance.

   the green livery of summer.

8. Law. an ancient method of conveying a freehold by formal delivery of possession.

---

livery ² American  

[liv-uh-ree] / ˈlɪv ə ri /

adjective

1. liverish.

---

livery ¹ British  

/ ˈlɪvərɪ /

noun

1. the identifying uniform, badge, etc, of a member of a guild or one of the servants of a feudal lord

2. a uniform worn by some menservants and chauffeurs

3. an individual or group that wears such a uniform

4. distinctive dress or outward appearance

5. 1. the stabling, keeping, or hiring out of horses for money

   2. ( as modifier )

      a livery horse

6. being kept in a livery stable

7. legal history an ancient method of conveying freehold land

---

livery ² British  

/ ˈlɪvərɪ /

adjective

1. of or resembling liver

2. another word for liverish

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• liveries
  plural

Etymology

Origin of livery¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English livere, from Anglo-French, equivalent to Old French livree “allowance (of food, clothing, etc.),” noun use of feminine past participle of livrer “to give over,” from Latin līberāre; see liberate

Origin of livery²

First recorded in 1770–80; liver ¹ + -y ¹

Explanation

A livery is a place that will take care of your horse, for a fee. You will mostly see this use now in historic novels — especially the kind where a cowboy rides into town and stables his horse at the livery. The noun livery also refers to a uniform sometimes worn by male servants, like doormen, footmen, and chauffeurs. Your cousin works for a prominent and wealthy family, and he is required to wear the livery of that family when he is on duty. He isn't allowed to say where he works, but he calls his boss, "Your Highness."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

livery liveries

It features a new red, white and navy blue colour scheme in a change from the previous white and light blue livery.

From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026

Fiona and Ian Long, who look after more than 70 horses at Padwick Farm in Leek, Staffordshire, said they had seen a 60% growth in livery bookings in the last five years as prices rise.

From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026

Officially a midsize SUV, the Optiq looks lean and well-planted, thanks to its low-roof design—in the case of our test car, accented by the optional black-over-tangerine livery and 21-inch black-painted alloy wheels.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 16, 2026

Government minister Luke Pollard said: "The Land Rover and British Army share an incredible history and the image of a Landy in Army livery is truly iconic."

From BBC ● Mar. 19, 2026

The wagon was pulled by Red Rabbit, whom we kept along with the wagon in a livery stable a few blocks away in the demons’ section.

From "Dragonwings" by Laurence Yep

Some carriers are wrapping their planes with special liveries for the occasion, for example.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 14, 2026

The single, folded sheet lists just 90 names, mostly businesses near historic downtown such as liveries, saloons, physicians, mills, druggists and the local undertaker.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2025

Meanwhile 737s that appear to be finished and ready to go, painted in the liveries of seven Chinese airlines, sit parked at Boeing Field or Renton.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 12, 2019

The plant, in the eastern city of Zhoushan, will install interiors and paint liveries.

From Reuters ● Nov. 2, 2018

It was bare, stripped of King Hamlet's liveries and banners.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

Related Words

• attire
• bundle up
• cloak
• disguise
• do up
• drape
• dress
• dress up
• equip
• fit
• swaddle
• swathe