Belt vs. Strap: What's the Difference?
By Aimie Carlson || Updated on May 22, 2024
A belt is a flexible band, typically worn around the waist to secure clothing, while a strap is a narrow, long piece used for fastening, securing, or carrying items.
Key Differences
A belt is primarily a functional accessory worn around the waist to secure or hold up clothing, such as trousers or skirts. Belts can also be decorative, made from various materials like leather, fabric, or synthetic materials, and often feature buckles for fastening. A strap, on the other hand, is a versatile, narrow, and long piece of material used in various contexts for fastening, securing, or carrying items. Straps can be found on bags, watches, and various types of equipment. They are made from materials such as leather, fabric, or nylon.
Belts are typically associated with fashion and clothing, providing both utility and style. They come in various widths and designs, often complementing the wearer's outfit. In contrast, straps are more utilitarian and are used in diverse applications, from securing luggage to attaching components in machinery.
Belts usually feature a buckle mechanism that allows for adjustable fastening, whereas straps may use buckles, velcro, snaps, or other fastening methods depending on their specific application.
Belts can be a statement piece in an outfit, reflecting personal style and fashion trends. Straps, however, are more focused on functionality and may not be as prominently featured in fashion, though they can still be stylish.
Comparison Chart
Primary Use
Securing or holding up clothing
Fastening, securing, or carrying items
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Common Materials
Leather, fabric, synthetic
Leather, fabric, nylon
Typical Features
Buckles
Buckles, velcro, snaps
Fashion Aspect
Often decorative and stylish
Primarily utilitarian
Adjustable Mechanism
Buckle
Various (buckle, velcro, etc.)
Belt and Strap Definitions
Belt
A broad area of color or texture, especially in geology or geography.
The asteroid belt lies between Mars and Jupiter.
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Strap
A long narrow strip of pliant material such as leather.
Belt
A flexible band, as of leather or cloth, worn around the waist or over a shoulder to hold up clothing, secure tools or weapons, or serve as decoration.
Strap
Such a strip equipped with a buckle or similar fastener for binding or securing objects.
Belt
Something resembling a belt, as a number of machine-gun rounds attached together in a strip.
Strap
A thin flat metal or plastic band used for fastening or clamping objects together or into position.
Belt
An encircling route.
Strap
A narrow band formed into a loop for grasping with the hand.
Belt
A seat belt or safety belt.
Strap
A razor strop.
Belt
A continuous band or chain for transferring motion or power or conveying materials from one wheel or shaft to another.
Strap
A strip of leather used in flogging.
Belt
A band of tough reinforcing material beneath the tread of a tire.
Strap
To fasten or secure with a strap.
Belt
A usually bandlike geographic region that is distinctive in a specific respect. Often used in combination
“This is America's rural poverty belt” (Charles Kuralt).
Strap
To beat with a strap.
Belt
A powerful blow; a wallop.
Strap
To sharpen (a razor, for example).
Belt
A drink of hard liquor.
Strap
A long, narrow, pliable strip of leather, cloth, or the like.
Belt
To equip, hold up, or attach with a belt
Belted my trousers.
Belted the sword to her waist.
Strap
A strap worn on the shoulder.
Belt
To encircle or mark in the manner of a belt
The equator belts the earth.
Strap
A strip of thick leather used in flogging.
Belt
To beat with a belt or strap.
Strap
Something made of such a strip, or of a part of one, or a combination of two or more for a particular use.
Belt
To strike forcefully; hit.
Strap
A piece of leather, or strip of wood covered with a suitable material, used to hone the sharpened edge of a razor; a strop.
Belt
To sing in a loud and forceful manner
Belt out a song.
Strap
A narrow strip of anything, as of iron or brass.
Belt
To swig (an alcoholic beverage).
Strap
A band, plate, or loop of metal for clasping and holding timbers or parts of a machine.
Belt
A band worn around the waist to hold clothing to one's body (usually pants), hold weapons (such as a gun or sword), or serve as a decorative piece of clothing.
As part of the act, the fat clown's belt broke, causing his pants to fall down.
Strap
(nautical) A piece of rope or metal passing around a block and used for fastening it to anything.
Belt
A band used as a restraint for safety purposes, such as a seat belt.
Keep your belt fastened; this is going to be quite a bumpy ride.
Strap
(botany) The flat part of the corolla in ligulate florets, as those of the white circle in the daisy.
Belt
A band that is used in a machine to help transfer motion or power.
The motor had a single belt that snaked its way back and forth around a variety of wheels.
Strap
(botany) The leaf, exclusive of its sheath, in some grasses.
Belt
Anything that resembles a belt, or that encircles or crosses like a belt; a strip or stripe.
A belt of trees; a belt of sand
Strap
(slang) A gun, normally a personal firearm such as a pistol or machine pistol.
Belt
A trophy in the shape of a belt, generally awarded for martial arts.
The heavyweight belt
Strap
Credit offered to a customer, especially for alcoholic drink.
Belt
(astronomy) A collection of small bodies (such as asteroids) which orbit a star.
Strap
(journalism) strapline
Belt
(astronomy) One of certain girdles or zones on the surface of the planets Jupiter and Saturn, supposed to be of the nature of clouds.
Strap
A championship belt, or by extension, the title.
Belt
A band of armor along the sides of a warship, protecting the ship's vital spaces.
The battleship was protected by a twelve-inch belt just above the waterline.
Strap
(finance) An investment strategy involving simultaneous trade with one put and two call options on the same security at the same strike price, similar to but more bullish than a straddle.
Belt
A powerful blow, often made with a fist or heavy object.
After the bouncer gave him a solid belt to the gut, Simon had suddenly had enough of bar fights.
Strap
(transitive) To beat or chastise with a strap; to whip, to lash.
Belt
A quick drink of liquor.
Care to join me in a belt of scotch?
Strap
(transitive) To fasten or bind with a strap.
Belt
A geographical region known for a particular product, feature or demographic (Corn Belt, Bible Belt, Black Belt, Green Belt).
Strap
(transitive) To sharpen by rubbing on a strap; to strop.
To strap a razor
Belt
(baseball) The part of the strike zone at the height of the batter's waist.
That umpire called that pitch a strike at the belt.
Strap
A long, narrow, pliable strip of leather, cloth, or the like; specifically, a strip of thick leather used in flogging.
A lively cobbler that . . . had scarce passed a day without giving her [his wife] the discipline of the strap.
Belt
(weapons) A device that holds and feeds cartridges into a belt-fed weapon.
Strap
Something made of such a strip, or of a part of one, or a combination of two or more for a particular use; as, a boot strap, shawl strap, stirrup strap.
Belt
(music) A vocal tone produced by singing with chest voice above the break (or passaggio), in a range typically sung in head voice.
Both auditionees had great ranges but Diamond had the strong belt we really need for the finale.
Strap
A piece of leather, or strip of wood covered with a suitable material, for sharpening a razor; a strop.
Belt
(transitive) To encircle.
The small town was belted by cornfields in all directions.
Strap
A narrow strip of anything, as of iron or brass.
Belt
(transitive) To fasten a belt on.
Edgar belted himself in and turned the car's ignition.
The rotund man had difficulty belting his pants, and generally wore suspenders to avoid the issue.
Strap
A band, plate, or loop of metal for clasping and holding timbers or parts of a machine.
Belt
(transitive) To invest (a person) with a belt as part of a formal ceremony such as knighthood.
Strap
The flat part of the corolla in ligulate florets, as those of the white circle in the daisy.
Belt
(transitive) To hit with a belt.
Strap
A piece of rope or metal passing around a block and used for fastening it to anything.
Belt
To scream or sing in a loud manner.
Strap
A shoulder strap. See under Shoulder.
Belt
(transitive) To drink quickly, often in gulps.
He belted down a shot of whisky.
Strap
To beat or chastise with a strap.
Belt
To hit someone or something.
The angry player belted the official across the face, and as a result was ejected from the game.
Strap
To fasten or bind with a strap.
Belt
To hit a pitched ball a long distance, usually for a home run.
He belted that pitch over the grandstand.
Strap
To sharpen by rubbing on a strap, or strop; as, to strap a razor.
Belt
(intransitive) To move very fast.
He was really belting along.
Strap
An elongated leather strip (or or strip of similar material) for binding things together or holding something in position
Belt
That which engirdles a person or thing; a band or girdle; as, a lady's belt; a sword belt.
The shining belt with gold inlaid.
Strap
Hanger consisting of a loop of leather suspended from the ceiling of a bus or train; passengers hold onto it
Belt
That which restrains or confines as a girdle.
He cannot buckle his distempered causeWithin the belt of rule.
Strap
A band that goes over the shoulder and supports a garment or bag
Belt
Anything that resembles a belt, or that encircles or crosses like a belt; a strip or stripe; as, a belt of trees; a belt of sand.
Strap
Whip consisting of a strip of leather used in flogging
Belt
One of certain girdles or zones on the surface of the planets Jupiter and Saturn, supposed to be of the nature of clouds.
Strap
Tie with a strap
Belt
A narrow passage or strait; as, the Great Belt and the Lesser Belt, leading to the Baltic Sea.
Strap
Beat severely with a whip or rod;
The teacher often flogged the students
The children were severely trounced
Belt
A token or badge of knightly rank.
Strap
Sharpen with a strap;
Strap a razor
Belt
A band of leather, or other flexible substance, passing around two wheels, and communicating motion from one to the other.
Strap
Secure (a sprained joint) with a strap
Belt
A band or stripe, as of color, round any organ; or any circular ridge or series of ridges.
Strap
A narrow piece of material used for fastening or securing.
She adjusted the strap on her handbag.
Belt
To encircle with, or as with, a belt; to encompass; to surround.
A coarse black robe belted round the waist.
They belt him round with hearts undaunted.
Strap
A strip of leather or fabric on a piece of clothing or equipment.
The strap of his watch was made of stainless steel.
Belt
To shear, as the buttocks and tails of sheep.
Strap
A component used to carry or lift items.
They used a strap to secure the luggage on the roof.
Belt
Endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys
Strap
A piece used in military or sports equipment.
The soldier tightened the strap on his helmet.
Belt
A band to tie or buckle around the body (usually at the waist)
Strap
A supportive band, often for medical or therapeutic purposes.
She wore a strap to support her injured knee.
Belt
An elongated region where a specific condition is found;
A belt of high pressure
Belt
A vigorous blow;
The sudden knock floored him
He took a bash right in his face
He got a bang on the head
Belt
A path or strip (as cut by one course of mowing)
Belt
The act of hitting vigorously;
He gave the table a whack
Belt
Sing loudly and forcefully
Belt
Deliver a blow to;
He belted his opponent
Belt
Fasten with a belt;
Belt your trousers
Belt
A band worn around the waist to hold up clothing.
He wore a leather belt to keep his jeans up.
Belt
A strip of material used in machinery to transfer motion.
The engine's belt needed to be replaced.
Belt
A region or area, often used metaphorically.
The corn belt is known for its agriculture.
Belt
A strong blow or hit.
He gave the punching bag a strong belt.
FAQs
What is the primary use of a belt?
A belt is primarily used to secure or hold up clothing around the waist.
What materials are belts commonly made from?
Belts are commonly made from leather, fabric, or synthetic materials.
What materials are straps commonly made from?
Straps can be made from leather, fabric, or nylon.
Are straps usually decorative?
Straps are primarily utilitarian, though they can be stylish.
Are straps adjustable?
Yes, straps are often adjustable, depending on their design and application.
Can belts be used in machinery?
Yes, belts can be used in machinery to transfer motion.
Do belts have a decorative aspect?
Yes, belts often have a decorative aspect and can be a fashion statement.
Are straps used in machinery?
Yes, straps can be used in machinery, often to secure or lift components.
What is the primary use of a strap?
A strap is used for fastening, securing, or carrying items.
Can belts be adjusted?
Yes, belts can be adjusted using the buckle mechanism.
What fastening mechanism do belts typically use?
Belts typically use buckles for fastening.
What fastening mechanisms can straps use?
Straps can use buckles, velcro, snaps, or other fastening methods.
Is a belt a part of a uniform?
Yes, belts can be part of uniforms, such as in the military or certain professions.
What is a strap in a therapeutic context?
In a therapeutic context, a strap can support or immobilize a part of the body.
Can straps be found on watches?
Yes, straps are commonly used on watches to secure them to the wrist.
What is a fashion belt?
A fashion belt is designed to complement an outfit and add a stylish element.
What is a carrying strap?
A carrying strap is used to help transport items, such as on a bag or luggage.
What is a belt in a metaphorical sense?
Metaphorically, a belt can refer to a region or area, like the "sunbelt."
Are straps used in sports equipment?
Yes, straps are commonly used in sports equipment for support and security.
Do belts come in various widths?
Yes, belts come in various widths to suit different styles and functions.
About Author
Written by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
