livery

¹ American  

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

noun

plural

liveries

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.

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livery ² American  

[liv-uh-ree] / ˈlɪv ə ri /

adjective

1. liverish.

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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

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livery ² British  

/ ˈlɪvərɪ /

adjective

1. of or resembling liver

2. another word for liverish

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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; 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

The team unveiled the livery for their new cars before a few hundred guests at Detroit's Michigan Central Station less than two months before the season opens in Melbourne on March 7.

From Barron's • Jan. 16, 2026

A BlackFly painted in EMS livery waited for me in the silvery grass.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 17, 2025

Others, like the jail, the livery and a barber shop are just facades — great for selfies but little else.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 10, 2025

Between the pomp surrounding donning one’s holy livery, pointed glares and swishing red silks and velvets, these cassocked clergymen make bored teenagers seem kind.

From Salon • Nov. 22, 2024

He got off the train in King City, and, instead of going direcdy to the livery stable to claim his horse and buggy, he walked to Will Hamilton’s new garage.

From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

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