Hanger

ˈhæŋər

nounBeginner📊CommonTechnology
3 meanings1 idiom/phrase3 questions

Definitions

3 meanings
1

A shaped frame or hook on which clothes are hung.

ˈhæŋər

nounneutralBeginner
Technology

A device used for hanging clothes

She put the dry-cleaned shirt on a hanger.

💡 Simply: It's like a little shoulder-shaped thing that you use to put your clothes up in the closet. Imagine you're putting your favorite shirt on a hanger so it doesn't get wrinkled!

👶 For kids: A hanger is like a stick with a hook on top that you put your clothes on so they don't get dirty.

More Examples

2

The closet was filled with hangers of various shapes and sizes.

3

Make sure to return the hangers to the dry cleaner.

How It's Used

Household

"She put her dress on a hanger."

Retail

"The store displayed the shirts on metal hangers."

2

A person who hangs another; an executioner.

ˈhæŋər

nounnegativeAdvanced
General

A person who hangs or executes

The town's hanger was feared by all.

💡 Simply: It can also mean someone, usually in the old days, who would carry out a hanging as a punishment. It’s a pretty harsh word.

👶 For kids: Sometimes, a 'hanger' used to mean the person who would put other people on a rope for a very bad thing they did.

More Examples

2

The court sentenced the criminal to be punished by a hanger.

3

The historical records talk about the presence of the hanger at that time

How It's Used

Historical

"In the old west, criminals were often sentenced to be hanged by the town."

Tip:Think of the old Wild West where hangings were a common punishment.
3

A building for housing and maintaining aircraft.

ˈhæŋər

nounneutralmedium
General

a place for aircraft

The airplane was safely stored in the hanger.

💡 Simply: A Hanger is a large building, like a garage, but for airplanes. Imagine where you put the planes overnight or when they need fixing.

👶 For kids: A big shed where airplanes are kept.

More Examples

2

The mechanics worked on the engine inside the hanger.

3

The military base had several hangers to store its aircraft.

How It's Used

Aviation

"The plane was stored in a hangar."

Tip:Picture a large building protecting airplanes from the weather.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Idioms & expressions

on the hanger

Refers to clothing placed on a hanger.

"The dress was safely placed on the hanger."

From Middle English hangere, from Old English hangra ('a hanging object'), from Proto-Germanic *hangōjaną ('to hang').

Historically, 'hanger' and 'hangar' were sometimes used interchangeably, though 'hangar' is more common for aircraft storage.

Memory tip

Think of the thing you put your shirts on in your closet.

Word Origin

LanguageOld English
Original meaning

"something to hang something on"

clothes hangercoat hangermetal hanger

Common misspellings

hangarhnger

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written