# hanger

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈhæ̞ŋ.ə/ · frequency rank #21,234

## Definitions
1. One who hangs, or causes to be hanged; a hangman, paper hanger, etc.
2. A person who attempts suicide by hanging.
3. That by which a thing is suspended.
4. That by which a thing is suspended.
5. That by which a thing is suspended.
6. That by which a thing is suspended.
7. A short and broad backsword, worn so to hang at the side, especially popular in the 18th century.
8. A steep, wooded slope.
9. A hanging pitch; a pitch (typically a breaking ball or slider) that is poorly executed, hence easy to hit.
10. Synonym of spectacular mark.
11. A device secured by a bolt and used to attach a carabiner.

## Etymology
Inherited from Middle English hanger, haunger, hangere, equivalent to hang + -er. Cognate with West Frisian hinger (“hanger”), Dutch hanger (“hanger”), German Hänger (“hanger”), Henker (“hangman”), Danish hænger (“hanger”), Norwegian henger (“hanger”), Swedish hängare (“hanger”).

## Easily confused with
- **hinge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hanger-vs-hinge)
- **hater** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hanger-vs-hater)
- **harder** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hanger-vs-harder)
- **hunter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hanger-vs-hunter)
- **hunger** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hanger-vs-hunger)
- **harper** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hanger-vs-harper)
- **Hansen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hanger-vs-hansen)
- **hinder** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hanger-vs-hinder)
- **hinges** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hanger-vs-hinges)
- **Hanley** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hanger-vs-hanley)
- **hinged** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hanger-vs-hinged)
- **Hauser** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hanger-vs-hauser)
- **hawker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hanger-vs-hawker)
- **hatter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hanger-vs-hatter)
- **Hanover** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hanger-vs-hanover)
- **hangover** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hanger-vs-hangover)
- **hang** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hang-vs-hanger)
- **Hagen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hagen-vs-hanger)
- **Hamer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hamer-vs-hanger)
- **Haber** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/haber-vs-hanger)

## Common misspellings (9)
`ahnger`, `hagner`, `hanegr`, `hangerr`, `hangger`, `hangre`, `hannger`, `hhanger`, `hnager`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/hanger