stringer

noun

string·​er ˈstriŋ-ər 

1

: one that strings

2

: a string, wire, or chain often with snaps on which fish are strung by a fisherman

3

: a narrow vein or irregular filament of mineral traversing a rock mass of different material

4

a

: a long horizontal timber to connect uprights in a frame or to support a floor

b

: string sense 8

c

: a tie in a truss

5

a

: a longitudinal member extending from bent to bent of a railroad bridge and carrying the track

b

: a longitudinal member (as in an airplane fuselage or wing) to reinforce the skin

6

a

: a news correspondent who is paid space rates

b

: a reporter who works for a publication or news agency on a part-time basis

broadly : correspondent

7

: one estimated to be of specified excellence or efficiency

—used in combination

first-stringer

second-stringer

Examples of stringer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As the name implies, the airframe is a series of cross-sectional hoops linked by stringers that run the fuselage’s length. —Ryan Erik King / Jalopnik, Quartz, 21 Oct. 2024

Then on Wednesday, after struggling in the early going, the Rockets eventually beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in overtime, 122-113, with their third stringers being featured heavily. —Rahat Huq, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024

Brady and a few stringers quickly pulled together what Brady named Page Six because that’s the page where the column initially ran. —Susan Mulcahy, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Oct. 2024

The past decade has included recurring questions regarding his place in the all-time rankings, with some detractors appraising him as a mere stringer of words and little more when compared to his peers. —Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 13 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

stringer

noun

string·​er ˈstriŋ-ər 

1

: one that strings

2

: a long piece of wood or metal used for support or strengthening in a building (as under a floor)