rubber band

American  

noun

1. a narrow, circular or oblong band of rubber, used for holding things together, as papers or a box and its lid.

---

rubber band British  

noun

1. Also called: elastic band.  a continuous loop of thin rubber, used to hold papers, etc, together

---

Usage

What else does rubber band mean? The handy, dandy rubber band, useful for flinging at people and holding together important things, like stacks of cash money, as rubber bands refer to in hip-hop slang.Rubber bands also come up in fashion contexts, from bracelets and hairstyles, and a common complaint for those who have to use special ones for orthodontic braces.

Etymology

Origin of rubber band

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

“It’s like the rubber band got really stretched in one direction,” as the U.S. had long beaten emerging-market equities, he said.

From MarketWatch

They offer what I call a “snapback” hypothesis for why small caps should now outperform: Large caps’ outperformance is stretched so thin it’s like a rubber band — ready to snap back.

From MarketWatch

Then he opened the jar, dumped the money on the floor, and pulled the rubber band off.

From Literature

Pair the glossy burgundy bezel ring with a brushed bronze mesh bracelet or black rubber band.

From Los Angeles Times

Cormorant’s bill is held by rubber band during bath to remove oil after the Santa Barbara oil spill.

From Los Angeles Times