What does shoelace mean?
A shoelace is a lace, cord, or string used to fasten a shoe. Most shoes have eyelets through which the lace is threaded, allowing the wearer to tighten the shoe and secure it with a knot or bow. In traditional shoemaking, the word can also refer to thread used to construct or repair footwear. In everyday use, shoelace is often plural: people tie, knot, tighten, or replace their shoelaces. The term is especially associated with the familiar ritual of bending down to retie a shoe, and it can therefore carry a mild sense of hurriedness, minor inconvenience, or comic frustration when the knot has come loose. Although shoestring can sometimes mean a shoe-lacing cord, it is a broader word with additional meanings related to thin cords and limited money. The standard plural is shoelaces, and the related forms shoelaced and shoelacing describe tying or fastening with a shoelace.
nounA lace or cord used to fasten a shoe, usually by passing it through eyelets and tying it. In traditional shoemaking, the term can also refer to thread used to make or repair a shoe.
- A lace or cord used to fasten a shoe, typically by passing it through eyelets and tying it.
- A shoemaker's lace; thread used in making or repairing a shoe.
"She bent down to retie her shoelace before crossing the street."
"He bent down to retie his shoelace before entering the office."
"The cobbler repaired the damaged shoe with waxed thread and a short length of shoelace."
The standard plural is shoelaces, as in tie or replace your shoelaces.
"Her new shoelaces matched the color of her coat."
A shoelace may be small, but it can decide whether a hurried morning begins with a stumble—or a swift exit.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does shoelace come from?
The compound was formed in English from shoe and lace, both inherited words that were established before the combination appeared. Shoe comes from Old English scōh, while lace entered English through Old French laz from Latin laqueus, meaning a loop or snare. The compound's straightforward meaning reflects its history: a lace belonging to, or used on, a shoe.
Related word forms
How shoelace is actually used
The word is concrete and familiar, with a practical rather than formal tone. When referring to the fastening cords of a pair of shoes, the plural form is usually more natural than the singular.
Easily confused with shoelace
A shoelace is specifically the lace or cord used to fasten a shoe, while a shoestring is a broader term that can also refer to a thin rope or cord and, figuratively, to a very limited budget.