# trapping

/ˈtɹæpɪŋ/ (US) · /tɹˈæpɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/trapping
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

the outward signs, objects, or features that are linked to a specific job, status, or way of life. These are often things you can see, like expensive clothes or fancy equipment.

For teachers: the outward signs, features, or objects associated with a particular situation, role, or status. Often used in the plural to refer to the external indicators of wealth or power.

## Examples

- He enjoys all the trappings of success, like his fast car.
- Despite having all the trappings of a modern office, the company still relies on outdated paper filing systems.
- The young heir found himself increasingly burdened by the formal trappings of his position, longing for a life defined by personal merit rather than inherited ceremony.

## Pitfalls

- Not "the trapping of wealth" but "the trappings of wealth" — When referring to the outward signs of status, the word is almost always used in the plural.

## Usage notes

- Almost exclusively used in the plural form ('trappings'). Often followed by the preposition 'of' to specify the status or role being described.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.