necktie

American

[nek-tahy] / ˈnɛkˌtaɪ /

noun

a band of decorative fabric worn around the neck, under the collar, and tied in front to hang down the front of a shirt or to form a small bow.
any band, scarf, or tie fastened at the front of the neck.
Slang. a hangman's rope.

necktie British

/ ˈnɛkˌtaɪ /

noun

the US name for tie

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

necktieless

adjective

Etymology

Origin of necktie

First recorded in 1830–40; neck + tie

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.

Traders can wager on everything from football games to the color of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s necktie.

From Barron's • Dec. 11, 2025

The necktie has its roots in the 17th century.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025

It was the details at Dior that spoke volumes — subtle pop-culture references, the number of pleats on a pair of giant cargo shorts, the messy styling of a necktie.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 2, 2025

They reinstated him in 1951, but his unique look - baggy plus-fours, white silk shirts and a necktie - wasn't seen so much in the US after that.

From BBC • Jul. 16, 2024

It had been with the best of intentions, Joe was sure, but he had felt suffocated by the ceaseless rejoinders and advice—on everything from what classes to take to how to tie his necktie.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023