Fetter can be a verb or a noun. As a verb, it means to restrainhold back or limit movement; prevent free action someone or something with chains or similar bonds. As a noun, it means a shacklea metal device that fastens feet or ankles together used to keep the feet or ankles restrainedkept from moving freely or being released.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈfɛtər/
Easy pronunciation: FET-er (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable: FET-er.
Verb sense: to restrain with fetters.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Fetter Meaning
to bind or restrain with chains or similar bonds
Part of speech: verb
Definition: restrain with fetters
Example: The prisoner was fettered before being moved to another cell.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- shackle — A direct substitute in the sense of physically restraining with bonds.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Fetter
Meaning 2
a chain or restraint for the feet or ankles
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a shackle for the ankles or feet
Example: The old dungeon still had iron fetters on the walls.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- hobble — A listed synonym for the noun sense, though less common and more context-dependent than shackle.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Fetter Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- shackle
noun: a shackle for the ankles or feet
- hobble
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using fetter only as a noun; it can also be a verb.
- Mixing up fetter with similar words like 'hobble' in everyday usage, since 'hobble' is less commonly used as a direct noun synonym outside this sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does fetter mean?
Fetter means to restrain with chains or similar bonds, or it can refer to a shackle for the feet or ankles.
Is fetter a noun or a verb?
It can be both. The verb means to restrain with fetters, and the noun means a foot or ankle shackle.
What is a synonym for fetter?
For the verb sense, a good synonym is shackle. For the noun sense, hobble is listed as a related synonym, though it is less common.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-03. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
