What does "lanyard" mean?
A short rope used for fastening rigging, as a handle, etc.
Lanyard
/ˈlæn.jəd/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A short rope used for fastening rigging, as a handle, etc.
- Grammar: lanyard is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: cord, laniard, rigging, rope.
- Usage evidence: I will buy a lanyard to carry my phone, so I don't lose it.
How to use "lanyard"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "lanyard" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "lanyard" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "lanyard" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "lanyard" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "lanyard" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "cord" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "lanyard", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A short rope used for fastening rigging, as a handle, etc.
""Take ahold here, an' keep ringin' steady," said Dan, passing Harvey the lanyard of a bell that hung just behind the windlass."
- 2 (nautical) a line used for extending or fastening rigging on ships wordnet
- 3 A cord worn around the neck, shoulder, or wrist which is attached to a small object to be carried such as an identity card or security pass, key, knife, or whistle. broadly
"Aboard ship he carried his crutch by a lanyard round his neck, to have both hands as free as possible. [...] [H]e would hand himself from one place to another, now using the crutch, now trailing it alongside by the lanyard, as quickly as another man could walk."
- 4 a cord worn around the neck to hold a knife or whistle wordnet
- 5 A craft activity done by intricately braiding thin colored plastic lines to make patterns, or the product of such a craft.
"It's lanyard. It's a camp tradition. You'll have about a million lanyard key chains by the time the summer is over."
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 a cord with an attached hook that is used to fire certain types of cannon wordnet
- 7 A cord with a hook which is secured to an artillery piece, and pulled to fire the weapon. broadly
Example
"I will buy a lanyard to carry my phone, so I don't lose it."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "lanyard"?
Common synonyms include: cord, laniard, rigging, rope, safety line, strap.
How do you use "lanyard" in a sentence?
I will buy a lanyard to carry my phone, so I don't lose it.
How do you pronounce "lanyard"?
Pronounced /ˈlæn.jəd/.
Etymology
From late Middle English lainer, lainere, lanyer (“strap or thong used to fasten armour”) (with the ending modified in the 17th century under the influence of yard), from Old French laniere, lasniere (“thong, lash”) (see modern French lanière (“lanyard, strap”)). The French word is ultimately from Germanic, cognate with Old High German nestila (“band, headband; strap”) (modern German Nestel (“lace; strap; string”)), Old Norse nesta (“brace; fastener, strap”).