shoulder strap: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral
Quick answer
What does “shoulder strap” mean?
A strap designed to go over the shoulder, typically to support a bag, piece of clothing, or piece of equipment.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A strap designed to go over the shoulder, typically to support a bag, piece of clothing, or piece of equipment.
Any narrow strip of material (fabric, leather, etc.) worn over or attached to the shoulder for functional, decorative, or load-bearing purposes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'shoulder strap' is the standard term; in the US, 'strap' alone is often sufficient in context (e.g., 'the strap on her bag'). The term 'spaghetti strap' for a thin dress strap is more common in US fashion contexts.
Connotations
Largely neutral in both. In military/technical contexts, it is purely functional.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both dialects for describing bags, bras, and uniforms.
Grammar
How to Use “shoulder strap” in a Sentence
The [ITEM] has/had a broken shoulder strap.She adjusted the shoulder strap on her [BAG/DRESS].The [UNIFORM] featured a distinctive shoulder strap.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shoulder strap” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The bag can be shoulder-strapped for comfort. (rare, adjectival use)
- She shoulder-strapped her rifle. (rare/contextual)
American English
- The design shoulder-straps the weight effectively. (rare/technical)
- He shoulder-strapped the camera bag. (rare)
adverb
British English
- The bag hung shoulder-strap style. (rare)
American English
- She carried it shoulder-strap across her body. (rare)
adjective
British English
- The shoulder-strap adjuster is stiff.
- It's a shoulder-strap bag.
American English
- The shoulder-strap padding is thick.
- Look for a shoulder-strap style.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in product descriptions for luggage, handbags, apparel, and infant products.
Academic
Rare, might appear in historical/design studies of clothing or military equipment.
Everyday
Very common when discussing bags, clothing repairs, baby carriers, or seatbelts.
Technical
Specific in design engineering (load distribution), orthopaedics (for slings), and military gear (webbing).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shoulder strap”
- Using 'shoulder strap' to refer to a handle (e.g., the top handle of a briefcase).
- Misspelling as 'shoulder-strap' (hyphenated form is less common).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is typically written as two separate words ('shoulder strap'). Hyphenation ('shoulder-strap') is less common and usually used in adjectival positions (e.g., a shoulder-strap bag).
A handle is designed to be held in the hand, while a shoulder strap is specifically designed to be placed over the shoulder to carry an item hands-free.
It is extremely rare as a verb. Standard usage is almost exclusively as a noun. If needed, phrases like 'fit with a shoulder strap' or 'carry via a shoulder strap' are used.
Not exactly. 'Spaghetti strap' is a specific type of very thin, round shoulder strap, often found on women's tops or dresses. 'Shoulder strap' is the general, overarching term.
A strap designed to go over the shoulder, typically to support a bag, piece of clothing, or piece of equipment.
Shoulder strap is usually neutral in register.
Shoulder strap: in British English it is pronounced /ˈʃəʊldə stræp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈʃoʊldər stræp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Shoulder the strap (rare, implies taking on a burden or responsibility, often military).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SHOULDER STRAP: it's a STRAP that goes on your SHOULDER. Picture a bag hanging from your shoulder by its strap.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUPPORT IS A STRAP (e.g., 'He was the shoulder strap she leaned on').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'shoulder strap' LEAST likely to be used?