1
: a person or machine that binds something (such as books)
2
a
: something used in binding
b
: a usually detachable cover (as for holding sheets of paper)
3
: something (such as tar or cement) that produces or promotes cohesion in loosely assembled substances
4
: a temporary insurance contract that provides coverage until the policy is issued
5
: something (such as money) given in earnest
also
: the agreement arrived at
6
: a tobacco leaf wrapped between the filler and wrapper of a cigar
Examples of binder in a Sentence
The egg in the recipe acts as a binder.
Recent Examples on the Web
In cardboard boxes stacked on endless rows of metal shelving, string-tie binders hold the original versions of thousands of plays.
—
Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2025
Perfect for keeping together your books, files, and binders, the shelf comes in three different finishes (light honey, tobacco oak, and textured white).
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Feb. 2025
Eco Material and its competitors seek to reduce the carbon footprint of producing cement—the binder that holds concrete together.
—Erik Kobayashi-Solomon, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
The firm is also testing new color components to reduce the use of chemical binders and focusing on alternative finishing products.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 30 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for binder 
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Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2025
Perfect for keeping together your books, files, and binders, the shelf comes in three different finishes (light honey, tobacco oak, and textured white).
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Feb. 2025
Eco Material and its competitors seek to reduce the carbon footprint of producing cement—the binder that holds concrete together.
—Erik Kobayashi-Solomon, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
The firm is also testing new color components to reduce the use of chemical binders and focusing on alternative finishing products.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 30 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for binder
Dictionary Entries Near binder
Cite this Entry
“Binder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/binder. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
binder
noun
bind·er
ˈbīn-dər 
1
: a person or machine that binds something (as books)
2
: a cover for holding together loose sheets of paper
3
: something that holds other substances together
use egg as a binder in meat loaf
Medical Definition
binder
noun
bind·er
ˈbīn-dər
1
: a broad bandage applied (as about the chest or abdomen) for support
a breast binder
an obstetrical binder
2
: a substance (as glucose or acacia) used in pharmacy to hold together the ingredients of a compressed tablet
Legal Definition
binder
noun
bind·er
ˈbīn-dər
1
: a temporary insurance contract that provides coverage until the policy is issued
2
: a receipt for money paid to the owner of real estate or to the owner's agent to secure the right to purchase the real estate upon agreed terms
also
: the money itself
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