Belt vs. Girdle: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
A belt is a strip of material worn around the waist to support clothing or for adornment, while a girdle is often a fitted undergarment encircling the waist to the hips, shaping the body.
Key Differences
A belt is typically a flexible band or strap, usually made of leather or cloth, worn around the waist primarily to secure or hold up clothing like pants or skirts. A girdle, on the other hand, is often an undergarment designed to shape and smooth the figure, extending from the waist to the hips.
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Dec 06, 2023
Belts are commonly used as fashion accessories, available in various styles and designs, often featuring buckles for adjustment. Girdles serve more as shapewear, intended to contour the body, and may include elements like lacing, boning, or elastic fabric for a snug fit.
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Dec 06, 2023
In historical contexts, a belt was used for practical purposes such as carrying tools or weapons, and it has evolved into a modern fashion staple. Historical girdles were also functional, providing support for the body or as a base to attach other garments, but have become more associated with body shaping in contemporary times.
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Dec 06, 2023
The functionality of a belt is generally limited to waist support and aesthetic enhancement, while a girdle can have health-related functions, such as providing back support or improving posture.
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Dec 06, 2023
Belts are a unisex accessory, worn by both men and women, whereas girdles are primarily associated with women's lingerie and have a more specific purpose in women's fashion and body shaping.
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Dec 06, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Historical Context
Practical tool-holder, fashion
Body support, garment base
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Dec 06, 2023
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Belt and Girdle Definitions
Belt
A belt is a flexible band worn around the waist, primarily for holding up clothing.
He tightened his belt to keep his trousers in place.
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Dec 06, 2023
Belt
Belts are often adjustable, featuring buckles or clasps.
The leather belt had a brass buckle for easy adjustment.
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Dec 06, 2023
Belt
In martial arts, a belt signifies a practitioner's rank.
He earned his black belt in karate after years of training.
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Dec 06, 2023
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Girdle
An elasticized, flexible undergarment worn over the waist and hips to give the body a more slender appearance.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Girdle
A band made around the trunk of a tree by the removal of a strip of bark.
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Oct 19, 2023
Belt
Something resembling a belt, as a number of machine-gun rounds attached together in a strip.
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Oct 19, 2023
Belt
A continuous band or chain for transferring motion or power or conveying materials from one wheel or shaft to another.
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Oct 19, 2023
Girdle
To remove a band of bark and cambium from the circumference of (a tree), usually in order to kill it.
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Oct 19, 2023
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).
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Oct 19, 2023
Girdle
A belt or sash at the waist, often used to support stockings or hosiery.
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Oct 19, 2023
Girdle
A garment used to hold the abdomen, hips, buttocks, and/or thighs in a particular shape.
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Oct 19, 2023
Belt
To equip, hold up, or attach with a belt
Belted my trousers.
Belted the sword to her waist.
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Oct 19, 2023
Belt
To encircle or mark in the manner of a belt
The equator belts the earth.
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Oct 19, 2023
Girdle
The line of greatest circumference of a brilliant-cut diamond, at which it is grasped by the setting.
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Oct 19, 2023
Girdle
The removal or inversion of a ring of bark in order to kill or stunt a tree.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Girdle
(transitive) To kill or stunt a tree by removing or inverting a ring of bark.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Girdle
That which girds, encircles, or incloses; a circumference; a belt; esp., a belt, sash, or article of dress encircling the body usually at the waist; a cestus.
Within the girdle of these walls.
Their breasts girded with golden girdles.
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Oct 19, 2023
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
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Oct 19, 2023
Girdle
The zodiac; also, the equator.
From the world's girdle to the frozen pole.
That gems the starry girdle of the year.
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Oct 19, 2023
Belt
A trophy in the shape of a belt, generally awarded for martial arts.
The heavyweight belt
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Oct 19, 2023
Girdle
The line ofgreatest circumference of a brilliant-cut diamond, at which it is grasped by the setting. See Illust. of Brilliant.
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Oct 19, 2023
Belt
(astronomy) A collection of small bodies (such as asteroids) which orbit a star.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Girdle
To inclose; to environ; to shut in.
Those sleeping stones,That as a waist doth girdle you about.
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Oct 19, 2023
Girdle
To make a cut or gnaw a groove around (a tree, etc.) through the bark and alburnum, thus killing it.
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Oct 19, 2023
Belt
A geographical region known for a particular product, feature or demographic (Corn Belt, Bible Belt, Black Belt, Green Belt).
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Girdle
A band of material around the waist that strengthens a skirt or trousers
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Oct 19, 2023
Belt
(weapons) A device that holds and feeds cartridges into a belt-fed weapon.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Girdle
Cut a girdle around so as to kill by interrupting the circulation of water and nutrients;
Girdle the plant
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Oct 19, 2023
Belt
(transitive) To encircle.
The small town was belted by cornfields in all directions.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Girdle
A girdle is a fitted undergarment worn around the waist to hips for body shaping.
Her vintage dress fit perfectly thanks to the shaping effect of the girdle.
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Dec 06, 2023
Belt
(transitive) To invest (a person) with a belt as part of a formal ceremony such as knighthood.
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Oct 19, 2023
Girdle
Historically, a girdle referred to a belt-like garment worn for support.
Medieval knights often wore a girdle to support their armor.
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Dec 06, 2023
Girdle
Girdles can include features like boning or lacing for a structured fit.
The bridal girdle had delicate lacing at the back for a snug fit.
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Dec 06, 2023
Girdle
Girdles are often associated with enhancing a woman's figure.
She chose a girdle to achieve a smoother silhouette under her gown.
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Dec 06, 2023
Belt
(transitive) To drink quickly, often in gulps.
He belted down a shot of whisky.
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Oct 19, 2023
Girdle
In botany, a girdle can refer to a ring cut around a tree trunk.
The gardener used girdling to control the growth of the tree.
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Dec 06, 2023
Belt
To hit someone or something.
The angry player belted the official across the face, and as a result was ejected from the game.
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Oct 19, 2023
Belt
To hit a pitched ball a long distance, usually for a home run.
He belted that pitch over the grandstand.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Belt
That which restrains or confines as a girdle.
He cannot buckle his distempered causeWithin the belt of rule.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Belt
One of certain girdles or zones on the surface of the planets Jupiter and Saturn, supposed to be of the nature of clouds.
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Oct 19, 2023
Belt
A narrow passage or strait; as, the Great Belt and the Lesser Belt, leading to the Baltic Sea.
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Oct 19, 2023
Belt
A band of leather, or other flexible substance, passing around two wheels, and communicating motion from one to the other.
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Oct 19, 2023
Belt
A band or stripe, as of color, round any organ; or any circular ridge or series of ridges.
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Oct 19, 2023
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.
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Oct 19, 2023
Belt
Endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys
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Oct 19, 2023
Belt
An elongated region where a specific condition is found;
A belt of high pressure
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Oct 19, 2023
Belt
A vigorous blow;
The sudden knock floored him
He took a bash right in his face
He got a bang on the head
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Oct 19, 2023
Belt
A belt can be a decorative accessory in various styles and materials.
She wore a silver-studded belt to complement her outfit.
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Dec 06, 2023
Belt
Belt can also refer to a continuous band used in machinery.
The conveyor belt moved the boxes into the storage area.
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Dec 06, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
What purpose does a girdle serve?
A girdle serves to shape and contour the body, primarily from the waist to the hips.
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Dec 06, 2023
What is the primary function of a belt?
A belt's primary function is to hold up clothing, like pants or skirts, and can also be a fashion accessory.
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Dec 06, 2023
Are belts gender-specific?
No, belts are unisex and worn by both men and women.
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Dec 06, 2023
Are there different types of belts?
Yes, there are many types of belts, including leather, cloth, braided, and fashion belts.
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Dec 06, 2023
Do girdles offer any health benefits?
Some girdles can offer health benefits like back support and improved posture.
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Dec 06, 2023
Is a belt a necessary wardrobe item?
While not always necessary, a belt is a common and often essential accessory for many outfits.
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Dec 06, 2023
Can belts be purely decorative?
Yes, some belts are designed as purely decorative fashion accessories.
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Dec 06, 2023
Is a girdle a type of lingerie?
Yes, a girdle is often considered a type of women's lingerie.
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Dec 06, 2023
Are girdles only for formal wear?
No, girdles can be worn with various types of clothing, not just formal wear.
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Dec 06, 2023
Can girdles be comfortable to wear?
Modern girdles are designed to be more comfortable while still providing shaping benefits.
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Dec 06, 2023
Can a belt be used for carrying items?
Yes, some belts are designed with loops or pouches for carrying items.
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Dec 06, 2023
Are girdles suitable for all body types?
Girdles are available in a range of sizes and styles to suit different body types.
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Dec 06, 2023
Do girdles come in different styles?
Yes, girdles come in various styles, including high-waisted, thong, and long-leg styles.
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Dec 06, 2023
Are there belts with no buckles?
Yes, there are buckle-less belts that use alternative fastening methods.
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Dec 06, 2023
Can belts be custom-made?
Yes, belts can be custom-made to fit individual styles and sizes.
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Dec 06, 2023
Is a girdle visible under clothing?
Modern girdles are designed to be seamless and not visible under most clothing.
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Dec 06, 2023
How long does a girdle typically last?
The lifespan of a girdle depends on its material and how often it's worn and washed.
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Dec 06, 2023
How do you choose the right belt size?
Belt size is typically chosen based on waist measurement and pant size.
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Dec 06, 2023
Do girdles restrict movement?
High-quality girdles are designed to shape the body while still allowing comfortable movement.
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Dec 06, 2023
Can belts be a part of professional attire?
Yes, belts are often an integral part of professional and business attire.
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Dec 06, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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