sandal

¹ American  

[san-dl] / ˈsæn dl /

noun

1. a shoe consisting of a sole of leather or other material fastened to the foot by thongs or straps.

2. any of various low shoes or slippers.

3. a light, low, rubber overshoe covering only the front part of a woman's high-heeled shoe.

4. a band or strap that fastens a low shoe or slipper on the foot by passing over the instep or around the ankle.

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verb (used with object)

sandaled, sandaling, sandalled, sandalling

1. to furnish with sandals.

sandal ² American  

[san-dl] / ˈsæn dl /

noun

1. sandalwood.

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sandal British  

/ ˈsændəl /

noun

1. a light shoe consisting of a sole held on the foot by thongs, straps, etc

2. a strap passing over the instep or around the ankle to keep a low shoe on the foot

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Other Word Forms

• sandalled adjective
• unsandaled adjective
• unsandalled adjective

Etymology

Origin of sandal¹

1350–1400; < French sandale; replacing Middle English sandalie < Latin sandalium < Greek sandálion, equivalent to sándal ( on ) sandal + -ion diminutive suffix

Origin of sandal²

1350–1400; Middle English sandell < Medieval Latin sandalum < Late Greek sántalon, dissimilated variant of sándanon ≪ Sanskrit candana

Explanation

A sandal is a lightweight, open shoe that you're most likely to wear in the summer time. If you want your toes to show, buy some sandals! The difference between a sandal and a conventional shoe is that much of your feet are exposed when you wear sandals. Because of their strappy form, sandals are most common in the warmest months and the warmest climates. The oldest known sandals are about 10,000 years old, and the ancient Greeks commonly wore them. In fact, the word sandal comes from the Greek root sandalon.

Example Sentences

The clog and sandal company on Thursday posted a profit of $105.2 million, or $2.03 a share, compared with $368.9 million, or $6.36 a share, a year earlier.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026

This includes German firms such as BioNTech, which developed the first coronavirus vaccine to be approved in the West along with US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, and sandal maker Birkenstock.

From Barron's • Oct. 16, 2025

Prada got into trouble in June after its models walked the runway in Milan wearing a toe-braided sandal that looked like the Kolhapuri chappal, a handcrafted leather shoe made in India.

From BBC • Jul. 18, 2025

Panels of silk lamé and chiffon paired with crystals and long, feather-like sequin embellishments might seem party-aesthetics only, but paired with a white tee and sandal, this slip skirt is everyday festive.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2025

Mareth held his fingers up before Boots, who was busy trying to tug off Gregor’s sandal.

From "Gregor the Overlander" by Suzanne Collins

Related Words

• moccasin
• shoe
• slipper