livery

1 of 2

noun

liv·​ery ˈli-və-rē 

ˈliv-rē

plural liveries

1

a

: a concern offering vehicles (such as boats) for rent

a canoe livery

an automobile livery

b

: the feeding, stabling, and care of horses for pay

c

: livery stable

2

a

chiefly British : an identifying design (as on a vehicle) that designates ownership

b

: a servant's uniform

c

: the distinctive clothing or badge formerly worn by the retainers (see retainer entry 1 sense 1) of a person of rank

d

: distinctive dress : garb

a nun's traditional livery

3

: the act of delivering legal possession of property

4

archaic : the apportioning of provisions especially to servants : allowance

5

archaic

a

: one's retainers or retinue

b

: the members of a British livery company

livery

2 of 2

adjective

1

: resembling liver

2

: suggesting liver disorder

Synonyms

Noun

• outfit
• uniform

Examples of livery in a Sentence

Noun

the limousine chauffeur was easily distinguished from the cab drivers by his livery

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Now, the suit is in the white livery with dark knee and elbow patches. —David Szondy, New Atlas, 20 Oct. 2024

There were lavish necklaces in settings that resembled tire tracks, rings with bands and mounts that evoked knobby treads, and bold stripes that wouldn’t be out of place on a race-car livery. —Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 19 Oct. 2024

Adjective

Across the street is a livery cab service owned by Kevin Rosario (Jimmy Smits), who came to New York from Puerto Rico and poured his hopes into his daughter, Nina (Leslie Grace). —New York Times, 9 June 2021

During the pandemic, some local fleet managers who rented cars to Uber and Lyft drivers re-registered the vehicles for non-livery use and began renting to folks making deliveries for companies like DoorDash and Uber Eats. —Anne Kadet, WSJ, 8 June 2021

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French liveree, livree, literally, delivery, from liverer to deliver, from Latin liberare to free — more at liberate

Adjective

see liver entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Adjective

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing livery

• livery company
• livery stable

Kids Definition

livery

noun

liv·​ery

ˈliv-(ə-)rē

plural liveries

1

: a special uniform worn by the servants of a wealthy household

a footman in livery

2

: the clothing worn to distinguish an association of persons

the livery of a school

3

a

: the feeding, care, and stabling of horses for pay

b

: the keeping of horses and vehicles for hire

c

: livery stable

Medical Definition

livery

adjective

liv·​ery ˈliv-ə-rē 

: suggesting liver disorder : liverish