spaghetti strap: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal (Fashion/Clothing)
Quick answer
What does “spaghetti strap” mean?
A very thin shoulder strap on a garment, typically a top or dress, resembling a strand of spaghetti.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A very thin shoulder strap on a garment, typically a top or dress, resembling a strand of spaghetti.
Can refer to the style of garment itself (e.g., a spaghetti-strap top). In broader fashion contexts, it denotes a minimalist, delicate, or revealing neckline style.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. The term is used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical connotations of a thin, delicate strap. Possibly perceived as slightly more informal in British English.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties within fashion contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “spaghetti strap” in a Sentence
[garment] with spaghetti strapsa spaghetti-strap [garment]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “spaghetti strap” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She prefers a spaghetti-strap silhouette for summer parties.
- The spaghetti-strap design is very popular this season.
American English
- I'm looking for a spaghetti-strap sundress.
- It's a simple, spaghetti-strap number.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in retail/fashion business contexts describing product features.
Academic
Very rare, unlikely outside specific design or material culture studies.
Everyday
Common in everyday descriptions of clothing, especially women's fashion.
Technical
Used in fashion design, pattern-making, and garment specification.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “spaghetti strap”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “spaghetti strap”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spaghetti strap”
- Using 'spaghetti string' (less common). Pluralising 'spaghetti' incorrectly (e.g., 'spaghettis strap'). Confusing it with 'halter strap'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Extremely rarely. It is almost exclusively used in women's fashion.
No, it functions only as a noun or an attributive noun (adjective).
They are synonyms, but 'spaghetti strap' is the more common and established term in fashion.
Typically yes, as the thin straps are often not wide enough to cover standard bra straps, making a strapless or convertible bra necessary.
A very thin shoulder strap on a garment, typically a top or dress, resembling a strand of spaghetti.
Spaghetti strap is usually informal (fashion/clothing) in register.
Spaghetti strap: in British English it is pronounced /spəˈɡeti ˌstræp/, and in American English it is pronounced /spəˈɡɛti ˌstræp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not applicable for this term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a single strand of **spaghetti** holding up the shoulder of a top — it's that thin and simple.
Conceptual Metaphor
FORM IS FOOD (A thin object is a strand of pasta).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'spaghetti strap' MOST likely used?