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

Tua Tagovailoa has put his team back in playoff contention while the Browns have handed things over to third stringer Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who was awful last week. —Hank Gola, New York Daily News, 27 Dec. 2024

However, the evidence will ultimately not be put to the stringer test until those indicted are brought before the Court. —Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024

Brian Daboll’s first stringers turned in an atrocious second padded practice at the training facility in East Rutherford, N.J., getting dominated by a defense playing without star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, who sat out with an illness for a second straight day. —Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 30 July 2024

An uncertainty that didn’t really leave even after the Steelers offered him a one-year deal to come back as the third stringer behind Kenny Pickett and Mitch Trubisky. —Will Graves, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Jan. 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)