carabiner

1 of 2

noun (1)

car·​a·​bi·​ner ˌker-ə-ˈbē-nər How to pronounce carabiner (audio)
ˌka-rə-
variants or less commonly karabiner
: a usually D-shaped or oblong metal ring with one spring-hinged side that is used especially in mountain climbing as a connector and to hold a freely running rope

Illustration of carabiner

Illustration of carabiner

karabiner

2 of 2

noun (2)

kar·​a·​bi·​ner

less common spelling of carabiner

: a usually D-shaped or oblong metal ring with one spring-hinged side that is used especially in mountain climbing as a connector and to hold a freely running rope

Examples of carabiner in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Go for this handheld fan with a carabiner that attaches to your purse. — Nneya Richards, Travel + Leisure, 1 July 2026 If your patio is covered, hang the lights using screw eyes and carabiners. — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Apr. 2026
Noun
First, during a bola-throwing competition, the karabiner connecting the rope to the balls got caught on Kaiser’s finger and sliced it open. — Emily Longeretta, Variety, 1 Feb. 2023 See All Example Sentences for carabiner

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

German Karabiner, short for Karabinerhaken, literally, carabineer's hook

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1920, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of carabiner was in 1920

Rhymes for carabiner

See All Rhymes for carabiner

Browse Nearby Words

carabineer
carabiner
carabinero
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Carabiner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carabiner. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on carabiner

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about carabiner

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All