1
a
: lines and chains used aboard a ship especially in working sail and supporting masts and spars
b
: a similar network (as in theater scenery) used for support and manipulation
2
: clothing
Examples of rigging in a Sentence
They checked the rigging before they set sail.
even at the Ivies they dress in the standard rigging of the college student: T-shirt and jeans
Recent Examples on the Web
Two Cleveland Guardians pitchers were charged last year and are set to face trial this year over a pitch-rigging related to in-game prop bets and parlays.
—
Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 9 Mar. 2026
The 2009 contest prompted mass anti-government protests, with demonstrators citing reported electoral irregularities and alleging vote rigging.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 8 Mar. 2026
Clase is known to be involved in rooster fighting in his native Dominican Republic, though the prosecution is alleging that the vernacular used in communication between Clase and co-conspirators instead represents pitch-rigging.
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Huge nationwide demonstrations erupted in 2009 over allegations of vote-rigging.
—Lee Keath, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rigging
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Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 9 Mar. 2026
The 2009 contest prompted mass anti-government protests, with demonstrators citing reported electoral irregularities and alleging vote rigging.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 8 Mar. 2026
Clase is known to be involved in rooster fighting in his native Dominican Republic, though the prosecution is alleging that the vernacular used in communication between Clase and co-conspirators instead represents pitch-rigging.
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Huge nationwide demonstrations erupted in 2009 over allegations of vote-rigging.
—Lee Keath, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rigging
Cite this Entry
“Rigging.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rigging. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rigging
noun
rig·ging
ˈrig-iŋ 
-ən
1
: the ropes and chains used aboard a ship especially in working sail and supporting masts and spars
2
: equipment for supporting and working something (as theater scenery)
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