plural noun

• 1British An elastic strap attached to a belt or garter, fastened to the top of a stocking to hold it up.

  ‘In contrast, when you stretch out a leg and place your toe into a rolled down sheer nylon stocking, there's a feeling of pure sensual pleasure as you slowly roll it up to hook into the suspender.’

  More example sentences

  • ‘A Vettriano woman wears stockings and suspenders, never tights.’
  • ‘The short, light green dress exposed her stockings and suspenders and her long, slim legs.’
  • ‘They wear boots and suspenders and corsets and, yes, hoop skirts.’

• 2North American A pair of straps that pass over the shoulders and fasten to the waistband of a pair of trousers or a skirt at the front and back to hold it up; braces.

  ‘I can remember the beginning of my academic career wherein all first-graders were compelled to wear short trousers and cloth suspenders over white shirts open at the neck, knee socks and leather shoes cut above the ankles.’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Both offer everything from shirts and suspenders to frock coats and dusters (long coats).’
  • ‘He wore a casual white dress shirt with black suspenders over it, and had dark pants that barely fit on his stout body.’
  • ‘He wore a white shirt with black trousers and suspenders.’
  • ‘His uniform coat was tan, loose brown suspenders held up ill-fitting trousers, and he, too, was devoid of shoes.’
  • ‘Every day of my junior year, I wore a pair of rainbow suspenders, jeans rolled up to my knees, striped knee socks, and a newsboy cap.’
  • ‘Think of suspenders for keeping your shirts tucked in.’
  • ‘Over that, she threw on an orange and black jacket and pair of funky suspenders.’
  • ‘Saturday evening saw me and some friends all decked out in sleek dresses, smart shirts, fancy suspenders, a couple of very nice hats and one truly fabulous vest.’
  • ‘Ann, known as Annette, was only eighteen when Bonaparte met her while buying a pair of suspenders at her mother's shop in Philadelphia.’
  • ‘He was standing in the doorway, wearing a frown and a soiled T-shirt, his large belly protruding over his pants, held up by a pair of suspenders.’
  • ‘Nearly every other day at school, I wore combat boots, cook pants, a white shirt, suspenders, and a bowler.’
  • ‘You owned a pair of rainbow suspenders just like Mork used to wear.’
  • ‘A plump figure dressed in a boring black shirt with blue suspenders stood up.’
  • ‘He was about seventy, with suspenders over a short-sleeved shirt and a lopsided bow tie.’
  • ‘With that, she took his black suspenders and a white shirt and undershirt.’
  • ‘Your whole wardrobe is blue suspenders and red shirts.’
  • ‘Consider wearing suspenders instead of a belt to minimize attention to your waistline.’
  • ‘Men who insist on suspenders must leave the belt behind.’
  • ‘What's your verdict on wearing pants without a belt or suspenders?’