zipper

American  

[zip-er] / ˈzɪp ər /

noun

• zippers
  plural

1. Also called slide fastener. a device used for fastening clothing, valises, etc., consisting of two toothed tracks or spiral metal or plastic coils, each bordering one of two edges to be joined, and a piece that either interlocks or separates them when pulled.

2. a person or thing that zips.

3. a rubber and fabric boot or overshoe fastened up the leg by a zipper.

4. a large illuminated display of news bulletins or advertisements that rapidly and continously flash by on an upper part of a building.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. zip.

zipper British  

/ ˈzɪpə /

noun

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): zip. a fastening device operating by means of two parallel rows of metal or plastic teeth on either side of a closure that are interlocked by a sliding tab

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• zipperless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• zippers
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of zipper

1920–25, formerly a trademark; see zip ¹, -er ¹

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Explanation

A zipper is a sliding fastener. You'll get cold and wet if you don't zip the zipper on your coat during a blizzard. Zippers are usually made of metal or plastic teeth that fit together as you slide a tab along them. It's common to have a zipper on your coat, jeans, or dress instead of snaps or buttons. Suitcases and sleeping bags are usually closed with zippers too. The zipper was invented in 1917, but it was initially called a "zip." At the time, a zipper was a particular type of boot that zipped closed.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

zipper zippers

When he heard a Velcro zipper, he knew they’d found it: $28,000 in $100 bills from the recent sale of two vehicles.

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

The night before his first fitting, while fixing up the zipper, Vazquez tore a large hole in the shirt.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 11, 2026

As the tectonic plates shifted, the crust in this region was pulled apart and fractured, opening progressively from east to west, much like a zipper being undone.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 23, 2026

Among the new nonnegotiables: fleece vests instead of jackets and elastic waistbands instead of “hard pants,” i.e., anything with a zipper.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 28, 2025

She pulled the zipper of her red parka all the way up to her chin.

From "Case of the Sneaky Snowman: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #5" by Carolyn Keene

The Mark II suit, with its Army green hue, zippers, pull strings and brown straps, looks like it belongs on the cover of a 1960s sci-fan fan magazine.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026

Postage stamps used to come apart with a string of muted pops, their perforations separating serially like tiny zippers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

Earlier research has shown that lead can appear in metal components of children's clothing, such as zippers, buttons and snaps, sometimes leading to recalls.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 2, 2026

But Chinese factories rely entirely on local sources for everything, from fabric to zippers and buttons.

From BBC ● Jan. 12, 2025

Dangling from her left shoulder was a small turquoise bag with multiple zippers.

From "Genuine Fraud" by E. Lockhart

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