lanyard

noun

lan·​yard ˈlan-yərd 

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

The Xiaomi Sound Outdoor features a lot of buttons, including three over the lanyard – Power, Bluetooth, and Link. —Prakhar Khanna, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2025

The entire knife weighs only 53 g (1.87 oz) and measures just 69 mm (2.71 in) when folded, so it's perfectly suited for adding to a keychain or attaching to your backpack, especially thanks to an oblong slot through which a metal ring or lanyard can be threaded. —Michael Franco, New Atlas, 19 Dec. 2024

As dawn broke, a posse of bleary-eyed public servants, credentials on lanyards dangling over their sweatshirts, came out to meet the people. —Madeleine Wattenbarger, Eliana Gilet, & Axel Hernández, The Dial, 17 Dec. 2024

Don’t forget to pack: A cruise lanyard $10 $8 at Amazon Cruise lanyards — who knew! —Katy Spratte Joyce, Travel + Leisure, 10 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

lanyard

noun

lan·​yard ˈlan-yərd 

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