Meaning & use
a rigger
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Meanings
nouncountabletechnical
A person whose job is to set up and take care of the ropes and equipment on a ship or in a building.
Grammar: Countable: a rigger, two riggers. Often used with 'a' or in the plural.
Patterns
- a rigger on a ship
- a rigger in construction
- work as a rigger
The rigger checked every rope before the ship left port.
He works as a rigger on an oil platform.
The riggers climbed the mast to adjust the sails.
nouncountabledisapproving
A person who dishonestly arranges the result of a competition or election.
Grammar: Countable: a rigger, the riggers. Often used in political or sports contexts.
Patterns
- an election rigger
- a vote rigger
The election riggers were eventually caught and punished.
Fans accused the referee of being a rigger.
Word forms
| plural | riggers |
|---|
Common combinations
- a rigger on a ship
- The rigger on a ship must know every knot.
- work as a rigger
- She works as a rigger on a construction site.
- an election rigger
- The election rigger was banned from politics.
- a rigger's job
- A rigger's job can be dangerous in high winds.
Synonyms and how they differ
- rope access technician
- This is a more modern, formal term for someone who works at height using ropes; a rigger is broader and can also work on ships.
- manipulator
- This is a general word for someone who controls things dishonestly; a rigger specifically arranges results.
Word family
Commonly confused: a rigger or rigor?
a rigger vs rigor
Rigor means strictness or harshness; a rigger is a person.
Practice
In which sentence does 'rigger' mean a person who works with ropes and equipment?
Choose one answer.
Option B fits because a rigger on a ship works with ropes and sails. Option A refers to a person who dishonestly arranges results, not the sailing sense. Option C confuses 'rigger' with 'rigorous'. Option D is wrong because a rigger is not a fish.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a rigger”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.