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Meaning & use

necktie

noun·EverydayAmerican

Last updated

UK/ˈnek.taɪ/
US/ˈnek.taɪ/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A long, narrow strip of cloth worn around the collar and knotted at the front, usually with a shirt in formal clothes.

    Grammar: Takes a: a necktie; wear a necktie.

    Patterns

    • wear a necktie
    • tie a necktie
    • loosen a necktie

    He tightened his necktie before walking into the interview.

    My uncle gave me a silk necktie for my graduation.

    The restaurant asks men to wear a jacket and necktie.

  2. nouncountablefigurative

    A symbol of office work or formal business dress, as in a necktie job.

    Grammar: Used figuratively in phrases like a necktie job.

    Patterns

    • a necktie job

    After years on the farm, he took a necktie job in the city.

    She said she never wanted a necktie career.

    The factory floor and the necktie offices rarely met.

Word forms

pluralneckties

Common combinations

wear a necktie
Do I really have to wear a necktie to the wedding?
loosen his necktie
He loosened his necktie after a long meeting.
a striped necktie
The principal wore a striped necktie every day.
a silk necktie
A silk necktie makes a classic gift.
straighten your necktie
Straighten your necktie before the photo.

Synonyms and how they differ

tie
Tie is the shorter everyday word and can be used in British and American English.
cravat
A cravat is a wide, soft scarf-like neckcloth, older and more decorative than a necktie.
bow tie
A bow tie is tied into a bow at the throat instead of hanging down the chest.

Word family

neck noun
the part of the body between head and shoulders
tie noun
a shorter name for necktie
neckwear noun
things worn around the neck, such as ties and scarves
untie verb
to undo a knot

Commonly confused: necktie or neckerchief? necktie or bow tie?

necktie vs neckerchief

A neckerchief is a small scarf worn around the neck, not a strip of cloth hanging down the front.

necktie vs bow tie

A bow tie is tied into a bow at the throat, while a necktie hangs down the chest.

Practice

For the formal dinner, Marcus put on a jacket and a silk ____ knotted at his collar.

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