Dictionary

shoulder strap en · NOUN

Meanings

1. Each of the two short straps connected to the front and back of a garment (such as a dress) and going over the shoulders.
   • In Grandfather’s time, suspenders served just one purpose—to keep his drawers up. They were solid black, brown or navy, and there was no purpose in showing them off. But today, many men wearing braces for the first time will move the shoulder straps in a little toward the neck, allowing their braces to peek out from under their jacket. 1993 August 27, John Morell, “Brace Yourselves, Guys: Suspenders Are Not Meant to Be Seen”, in Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Calif.: Los Angeles Times Communications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 08 Aug 2026:
   • Besides, in the original, unamended version of the portrait – the version the critics saw in the Salon – one of the shoulder straps was shown to be in a fallen state. (Mr. Fairbrother reproduces an engraving of the painting, made at the time, that documents the scandalous position of this shoulder strap.) 1981 February 1, Hilton Kramer, “Art View: The Case of Madame’s Shoulder Strap”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 24 May 2015:
2. Each of the narrow straps attached to the shoulders of a military tunic, especially the ornamental strap showing the corps and grade of an officer.
   • […] Marshall-Cornwall observed from a ruined cottage[…], a position which enabled him to look down the length of the German trench and, with the aid of a powerful telescope, read the regimental numbers on the Germans' shoulderstraps. 1989, Michael Occleshaw, “I Spy . . .”, in Armour Against Fate: British Military Intelligence in the First World War, London: Columbus Books, →ISBN, page 53:
3. A strap of leather or fabric, supporting a bag or other article when carried.
   • Atlantic's Euro Back Brief, a kind of rucksack briefcase, is designed to remove the pain and strain of laptop lugging. It has two shoulder straps and is worn like a rucksack or baby-carrier, evenly and effortlessly distributing the burden of your weighty kit across both shoulders. You can also expose a single shoulder strap at a time if you prefer. 2003 March 15, Tim Wapshott, “Atlantic Euro Back Brief”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 10 Sep 2014:

Forms

Translations (4)

sv axelrem (supports for carrying a bag or rucksack) · el αορτήρας (supports for carrying a bag or rucksack) · bg презрамка (supports for carrying a bag or rucksack) · sv axelband (supports for carrying a bag or rucksack)