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Are Suspenders Plural or Singular?

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Are “suspenders” singular or plural?

Suspenders are a plural-only noun in English. Plural-only nouns, like the name suggests, only have a plural noun form and no singular noun form. In English, items or objects made up of pieces or parts are referred to only as a plural: things like glasses, trousers, jeans, goggles, and so on, are all made of parts and so are referred to exclusively as a plural noun.

👍🏼Usage Note

My new suspenders are very comfortable.

I need a pair of suspenders for my suit.

I bought a new suspender.

The suspenders is broken.

What are suspenders?

Merriam-Webster defines suspenders as:

A device by which something may be suspended: such as: one of two supporting bands worn across the shoulders to support trousers, skirt, or belt —usually used in plural and often with pair.

Plural-only nouns

The following objects and nouns are exclusively used as plural nouns in English, with no singular noun form:

Plural-Only Nouns Chart
Plural-only nouns. By Gflex on Canva.

💡Study Tip

That “suspenders” is always plural, think of the two straps that make up the garment – they are always a pair, never a single item.

Examples of the word suspenders used in sentences

1. In lieu of belt loops for some slacks, suspenders were worn to hold the pants up.

2. He wears a trench coat and a button-down shirt with suspenders, as well as a thin-brimmed fedora.

3. Gone are the support suspenders and gaudy steel rings that strangled the tower for much of the last decade.

4. He was wearing a wife-beater vest with Flash Harry pin-stripe pants and city trader suspenders hanging down from his waist

5. There are a lot of disposable and washable dog diapers to choose from, as well as truly adorable diaper suspenders if your pet needs a little extra help.

Origin of the word suspenders  

From etymology online on suspenders (n.):

Straps for holding up trousers, etc.,” 1806, American English, plural of suspender “one who or that which causes to hang by support from above” (1520s), agent noun from suspend (v.).  

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What’s the difference between they’re, their, and there?

Whose vs who’s?

Sources  

  1. Definition of suspenders.
  2. Sentences using suspenders.
  3. Origin of suspenders.

 

Work Sheet

Question 1 of 10

Based on the post, what is the grammatical form of the noun “suspenders”?



Which of these is the correct way to refer to one item of the garment “suspenders”?



According to the post, which type of verb should typically be used with “suspenders”?



Which of the following nouns is mentioned in the post as also being a plural-only noun, like “suspenders”?



Which of these sentences correctly uses the word “suspenders”?



The blog post states that “suspenders” only has a ___ noun form.



Objects made up of pieces or parts, like “suspenders”, are often referred to exclusively as a ___ noun.



To remember why “suspenders” is always plural, think of the two ___ that make up the garment.



I need a ___ of suspenders for my suit.



He wears a button-down shirt with ___.





Frequently Asked Questions

Is “suspenders” singular or plural?
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According to the post, “suspenders” is exclusively a plural-only noun in English. It does not have a singular noun form for the garment itself.

Can I say “a suspender”?
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No, the post states that “a suspender” is incorrect usage for the garment. “Suspenders” is a plural-only noun and is not used as a singular for the item. Think of the two straps.

Why is “suspenders” plural?
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The post notes that items made of parts, like the two straps making the garment, are often referred to exclusively as plural nouns in English, such as trousers or glasses.

How do I refer to one item?
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The post provides the correct usage: “I need a pair of suspenders for my suit.” While the noun is plural, you can refer to one set as “a pair of suspenders.”

Should I use “suspenders is”?
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No, the post shows “The suspenders is broken” as incorrect. Since “suspenders” is a plural noun, it requires a plural verb, such as “are” or “were.”

Yash, D. "Are Suspenders Plural or Singular?." Grammarflex, Jun 21, 2025, https://www.grammarflex.com/whats-the-plural-of-suspenders/.

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