thong

American  

[thawng, thong] / θɔŋ, θɒŋ /

noun

1. a strip of material, especially of leather or hide, used to fasten or secure something.

2. a strip of leather or hide used for whipping; whiplash.

3. a shoe or slipper fastened to the foot chiefly by a strip of leather or other material passing between the first and second toes and often attaching to another strip of material, as a strap across the instep or around the ankle.

4. a brief garment for the lower body that exposes the buttocks, consisting of a strip of fabric passing between the thighs and attached to a band around the waist.

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thong British  

/ θɒŋ /

noun

1. a thin strip of leather or other material, such as one used for lashing things together

2. a whip or whiplash, esp one made of leather

3. the usual name for flip-flop

4. 1. a skimpy article of beachwear, worn by men or women, consisting of thin strips of leather or cloth attached to a piece of material that covers the genitals while leaving the buttocks bare

   2. a similar item of underwear

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Other Word Forms

• thonged
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of thong

before 950; Middle English; Old English thwong; akin to Old Norse thvengr strap, thvinga to compel

Example Sentences

Khe, 71, was identified as the leader and initiator in the case, while Thong, 64, was said to be an accomplice.

From Barron's • Oct. 29, 2025

His successor, Nguyen Quang Thong, who left the newspaper in 2021, was sentenced to five-and-a-half years.

From Barron's • Oct. 29, 2025

When Tran Mai Huy Thong was growing up as a vegetarian in West Germany, his peers couldn’t comprehend his choice to not eat meat.

From New York Times • Dec. 10, 2023

University veterinarians used semen from the male offspring of Khun Thong Daeng to impregnate two royal dogs.

From Reuters • Oct. 14, 2019

"What kind of talk is that?" demanded Thong roughly.

From The Diamond Cross Mystery Being a Somewhat Different Detective Story by Steele, Chester K.