1
: a piece of rope or line for fastening something in a ship
especially : one of the pieces passing through deadeyes to extend shrouds or stays
2
a
: a cord or strap to hold something (such as a knife or a whistle) and usually worn around the neck
b
: a cord worn as a symbol of a military citation
3
: a strong line used to activate a system (as in firing a cannon)

Examples of lanyard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Guests will start their journey with a unique photo opportunity, and children will be given a special festival lanyard to explore all five immersive zones. Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2025 Cell Phone Crossbody Lanyard $11 at Amazon This $11 crossbody lanyard solves the problem of constantly pulling your phone out of your backpack to take pictures or check the navigation. Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2025 This card tracker can easily slide into your wallet or attach to a lanyard for office or security badges, eliminating the need for bulky trackers. Jessica Kanzler, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2025 This year, at the last minute, Oscar credentialing required even more clearance for red carpet reporters and crew: Green lanyards. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 2 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lanyard

Word History

Etymology

Middle English lanyer thong, lanyard, from Anglo-French lanier

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lanyard was in 1626

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lanyard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lanyard. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

1
: a rope or line for fastening something in ships
2
: a cord worn around the neck or shoulder to hold a knife or whistle
3
: a strong cord used in firing a cannon

More from Merriam-Webster on lanyard

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