Hangar or Hanger?

by Craig Shrives

What Is the Difference between "Hangar" and "Hanger"?

"Hangar" and "hanger" are easy to confuse because they sound almost identical (i.e., they are nearly perfect homonyms). However, their meanings are very different.
  • "Hangar" is a large building, typically for housing aircraft.
  • "Hanger" is something to hang clothes on.
hangar or hanger?

More about Hangar and Hanger

Although "hangar" and "hanger" sound similar, their meanings are quite different. They are both nouns.

Hangar

A "hangar" is a large building with an extensive floor area, which is typically used for housing and maintaining aircraft.

Example sentences with "hangar":
  • Hangars for military aircraft are rarely lined up in neat rows. This defends them against attack from enemy aircraft by ensuring only one hangar can be targeted on each fly-past. correct tick
  • Rain will not affect the day too badly. All the fete stalls will be set up in a large hangar. correct tick

Hanger

A "hanger" is an item used to hang things (usually clothing). It can also refer to a person who hangs things, but this is not a common usage.

Example sentences with "hanger":
  • My shirts keep slipping off these hangers. correct tick
  • The hangers don't have hooks at the top but studs that sit in the slider on the rail. It's an anti-theft measure. People will steal anything. correct tick
  • Will you call the picture hanger? The portrait of the former CEO is noticeably lopsided. correct tick

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See Also

adverse or averse? affect or effect? appraise or apprise? avenge or revenge? bare or bear? complement or compliment? dependant or dependent? discreet or discrete? disinterested or uninterested? e.g. or i.e.? envy or jealousy? imply or infer? its or it's? material or materiel? poisonous or venomous? practice or practise? principal or principle? tenant or tenet? who's or whose? lasagna or lasagne? List of easily confused words