ribbon

ribbon — noun

1. a thin strip of fabric or similar soft material that you tie around something or

1.nounA2
Definition

a thin strip of fabric or similar soft material that you tie around something or use as a decorative item, for example on gifts, in your hair, or on clothing.

Example

Owen wrapped the gift box with a shiny red ribbon and a bow.

collocation: red ribbon / silk ribbon / satin ribbon

The little girl wore a white silk ribbon in her hair for the party.

Common collocations
  • red ribbon
  • silk ribbon
  • satin ribbon
  • velvet ribbon
  • tie with a ribbon
  • wrap with ribbon
  • ribbon in her hair
  • ribbon around a gift
Synonyms
  • band

    a flat strip, usually without decorative loops or tails

  • strip

    any long narrow piece, not necessarily fabric

  • cord

    thick round string, not flat like a ribbon

  • lace

    open-weave decorative trim, typically finer than ribbon

Grammar Patterns

usually countable

Usage Note

Countable when referring to a single strip ('a red ribbon'); uncountable when referring to the material in general ('a metre of ribbon').

Common Mistakes

She wore a ribbon in her hair' (when meaning a hairband).
She wore a ribbon in her hair
this is correct if it is a fabric strip tied into a bow, not a plastic or metal hairband.

2. any object or marking that has a long, thin form like a strip of ribbon — for ex

2.nounB1
Definition

any object or marking that has a long, thin form like a strip of ribbon — for example, a road cutting through a landscape, a beam of light, or a column of smoke.

Example

A narrow ribbon of smoke rose from the chimney into the cold air.

pattern: a ribbon of [smoke/light/road/river]

The river was a blue ribbon winding through the green valley.

Common collocations
  • ribbon of smoke
  • ribbon of light
  • ribbon of road
  • ribbon of water
  • ribbon of land
Synonyms
  • streak

    emphasises colour or light more than shape

  • strip

    a long narrow piece; more neutral, less poetic

  • band

    usually wider and with defined edges

Grammar Patterns

usually singular: a ribbon of [noun]

Usage Note

Typically used in descriptive language about landscapes or light. The noun is almost always followed by 'of' plus the material or substance. This sense refers only to shape, not to actual fabric.

Common Mistakes

I bought a ribbon of silk' (meaning a piece of fabric).
I bought a metre of silk ribbon.
This sense is for shape descriptions, not for actual fabric strips.

3. a short coloured cloth bar worn on a soldier's uniform as a mark of honour for s

3.nounB2
Definition

a short coloured cloth bar worn on a soldier's uniform as a mark of honour for service in a particular battle, a period of duty, or an act of bravery.

Example

The captain wore three service ribbons pinned above his left pocket.

collocation: service ribbons / campaign ribbons

Grandpa keeps his old military ribbons from the Korean War in a small wooden box.

Common collocations
  • service ribbon
  • campaign ribbon
  • bravery ribbon
  • military ribbon
  • ribbon bar
  • pin a ribbon
Synonyms
  • medal

    a larger metal disc or cross hung from a ribbon; a higher honour than a ribbon bar

  • decoration

    a general term for any military award

Grammar Patterns

usually plural: service ribbons / campaign ribbons

Usage Note

A military ribbon is worn on the uniform as a flat bar, different from a full medal which hangs from a neck chain or larger pin. Soldiers often wear multiple ribbons to represent different honours.

Common Mistakes

He won a ribbon in the war' (sounds like a contest prize).
He was awarded a service ribbon for his time in the navy.
Military ribbons are honours, not prizes.

4. a coloured strip of material that is awarded to people who win or come second or

4.nounB1
Definition

a coloured strip of material that is awarded to people who win or come second or third during a contest, for example at a school fair, a sports day, or an agricultural show.

Example

The winner of the pie contest received a blue ribbon and a trophy.

blue ribbon = first place; red ribbon = second place

Henry hung his first-place ribbon on the wall above his bed.

Common collocations
  • blue ribbon
  • red ribbon
  • first-place ribbon
  • win a ribbon
  • award a ribbon
  • prize ribbon
Synonyms
  • medal

    a round metal disc, often on a ribbon, given for achievement in sports or contests

  • prize

    any reward for winning, not necessarily made of ribbon

  • trophy

    a cup or decorative object given as a prize

Grammar Patterns

usually colour + ribbon: blue ribbon / red ribbon

Usage Note

In American English, a 'blue ribbon' means first place, 'red ribbon' means second, and 'yellow ribbon' or 'white ribbon' means third. This system is also common at county fairs and school competitions worldwide.

Common Mistakes

She won a blue ribbon in the writing competition' (when the event uses a points system).
The phrase is correct if the event literally awards coloured ribbons.

5. a long, narrow strip of fabric or film that is soaked with ink and used in a typ

5.nounB2
Definition

a long, narrow strip of fabric or film that is soaked with ink and used in a typewriter or some printers to transfer letters onto paper.

Example

The typewriter ribbon had run out of ink, so the letters were very faint.

collocation: typewriter ribbon / ink ribbon

Owen replaced the old black ribbon with a fresh one before typing the letter.

Common collocations
  • typewriter ribbon
  • ink ribbon
  • change the ribbon
  • replace the ribbon
  • black ribbon
  • ribbon spool
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

typewriter ribbon / ink ribbon

Usage Note

This sense is becoming less common as typewriters are replaced by digital keyboards and printers. Many younger learners may not be familiar with this item, so it is often explained by comparison to a printer cartridge.

Idioms

cut the ribbon

idiom

to officially open a new building, road, or event by cutting a ceremonial ribbon stretched across the entrance.

The mayor cut the ribbon to officially open the new community library.

Noor was invited to cut the ribbon at the opening of the new playground.

cut/tear something to ribbons

idiom

to damage something severely by cutting or tearing it into many pieces, or to criticise someone or something very harshly.

The dog tore the sofa cushions to ribbons while we were out.

The critics cut her first novel to ribbons in the newspaper.

cut a/the ribbon (on something)

idiom

To perform a ceremony that marks the official start of a new building or project.

The mayor cut the ribbon on the new library last Saturday.

Who will cut the ribbon at the opening of the hospital?

cut/tear, etc. something to ribbons

idiom

To damage something severely by cutting or tearing it into many pieces.

The dog tore the sofa cushions to ribbons in minutes.

Her dress was cut to ribbons by the broken glass.

ribbon — verb

Word family

  • ribboned
    adjectiveB2
  • ribband
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe long, narrow pieces of material, but they differ in shape, use, and material. A band is usually a flat strip with a functional purpose — for example, a rubber band holds things together, and a headband keeps hair off the face. A strip is the most general term and can refer to any long narrow piece of anything: a strip of paper, a strip of land, a strip of fabric. A cord is round and thick, like the cord on a hoodie or a phone charging cord; it is never flat like a ribbon. Lace is a decorative open-weave fabric with holes in a pattern, used for trimming clothes or linens — it is often more delicate and expensive than ribbon. In short: if it is flat, decorative, and tied into a bow, it is a ribbon. If it is flat and functional, call it a band. If it is round and string-like, call it a cord. If it has an open, lacy pattern, call it lace.

band ↗stripcord ↗lace ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • tie with a ribbon
  • wrap in ribbon
  • ribbon of light
  • blue ribbon
  • cut the ribbon

Prepositions

Etymology

Old FrenchGermanicMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'ribbon' comes from Middle English 'riban' or 'riband', which was borrowed from Old French 'ruban' or 'riban'. The Old French term may have come from a Germanic source related to 'band' (something that binds), combined with a prefix. Over time, the spelling shifted from 'riband' to 'ribbon' under the influence of similar words like 'ribbon' (from French 'ruban'). The word has been used in English since around the 1300s. The verb sense developed later, appearing in the 1700s, and the figurative use for narrow strips of something (like a ribbon of road) emerged in the 1800s.