What does ribbing mean?
Ribbing most often means teasing someone in a playful, familiar, or gently mocking way, as in a group of friends offering constant ribbing about a person's appearance or habits. The word can carry a warm, humorous tone, especially when the relationship is comfortable, but it may sound harsh or cruel when the teasing is meant to embarrass or wound. Ribbing also has a more technical meaning in clothing and construction: it refers to ribbed fabric, knitted rows, or a series of structural ribs. Thus, the same word can describe the social activity of mockery and the physical texture or arrangement of ribs. In ordinary conversation, the teasing sense is dominant, while the textile and structural senses are more specialized.
Teasing, mockery, or playful ridicule directed at someone.
"He was the constant target of his brothers' ribbing."
Usually informal and often affectionate, but it can be hostile depending on context.
A series or arrangement of ribs, especially in a garment, corset, or other structure.
"The flexible ribbing around the waist provides support."
Ribbed knitted or woven material, especially material used for cuffs, waistbands, and close-fitting garments.
"The sleeves are made from soft cotton ribbing."
The plural is uncommon. In the sense of teasing, ribbing is normally treated as an uncountable noun; separate ribbed structures or textile sections may occasionally be referred to individually.
"The costume included several narrow ribbings around the torso."
From teasing someone about their ribs to a sweater's ribbing, this word has moved from the body to the sweater.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ribbing come from?
The sense meaning teasing derives from the verb rib, “to tease, banter, or ridicule.” The verb is historically connected with rib, the bone or structural curved support, although the precise development of its mocking sense is not entirely clear. The word rib itself is generally traced to Old Norse ribber, “rib” or “bone of the ribs.”
Related word forms
How ribbing is actually used
In its most common sense, ribbing is usually friendly or playful, though it can be unkind when the mockery is intended to hurt. In textiles and garment-making, it refers to raised or patterned rows that create elasticity.
Easily confused with ribbing
Ribbing means teasing or a ribbed structure, whereas a ribbon is a strip of fabric used for decoration or tying things.