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.
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:

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.).
What’s the difference between they’re, their, and there?
Sources
Work Sheet
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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Can I say “a suspender”?
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Why is “suspenders” plural?
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How do I refer to one item?
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Should I use “suspenders is”?
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Yash, D. "Are Suspenders Plural or Singular?." Grammarflex, Jun 21, 2025, https://www.grammarflex.com/whats-the-plural-of-suspenders/.