watchband

IPA/ˈwɒtʃbænd/
IPA/ˈwɑːtʃbænd/

watchband — noun

  • watchbandsingular
  • watchbandsplural

1. a long, narrow piece of material — such as leather, fabric, or metal — that hold

1.nounB1
Definition

a long, narrow piece of material — such as leather, fabric, or metal — that holds a wristwatch onto your arm

Example

Theo's old watchband broke, so he bought a new leather one online.

collocation: leather watchband / watchband broke

Minho replaced the metal watchband on his father's vintage watch.

collocation: metal watchband / replace watchband

Common collocations
  • leather watchband
  • metal watchband
  • fabric watchband
  • watchband broke
  • replace a watchband
  • adjust the watchband
  • watchband size
  • new watchband
  • old watchband
Synonyms
  • watch strap

    more common in British English

  • bracelet

    often used for decorative or metal watchbands; a bracelet can also be jewellery worn without a watch

  • band

    a shorter, informal term used when the context is clear

Usage Note

In American English, 'watchband' is the usual word. In British English, 'watch strap' is more common.

Common Mistakes

I need a new watchband for my wall clock.
I need a new watchband for my wristwatch.
A watchband is only designed for a wristwatch, not for other types of clocks.
She put a new watchband on her backpack.
She put a new watchband on her wristwatch.
A watchband attaches a watch to the wrist, not to other objects.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Watchband' and 'watch strap' refer to the same object but differ by region: Americans say watchband while British speakers prefer watch strap. 'Bracelet' is broader — it can mean a decorative watchband (especially metal links) or jewellery worn on the wrist with no watch at all. 'Wristband' is different: it describes a cloth band worn for sweat absorption, identification, or fashion (e.g. at a concert), not something that holds a timepiece. Say 'I bought a leather watchband for my new watch' (or 'watch strap' in the UK), but 'She wore a bright orange wristband to the music festival.'

watchband ↗watch strap ↗bracelet ↗wristband ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • watchband broke
  • replace the watchband
  • adjust the watchband
  • watchband size
  • new watchband

Etymology

Old EnglishOld NorseEnglish

The word 'watchband' is a compound formed from 'watch' (a timepiece worn on the wrist, from Old English 'wæcce' meaning wakefulness or a period of watching) and 'band' (a strip of material, from Old Norse 'band' meaning something that binds). The compound came into use in the early 1900s as wristwatches became popular and people needed a word for the strap that held them on.

First known use

1924

1924, in the meaning defined above