Clothes Peg vs. Clothespin
The terms are regional counterparts for the laundry device. The individual words “peg” and “pin” have many other meanings, so the equivalence should not be generalized beyond that object.
For the small device used to fasten washing to a line, “clothes peg” is standard UK wording and “clothespin” standard US wording.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / context | Use | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| UK laundry-device term | clothes peg | Use the ordinary UK name. |
| US laundry-device term | clothespin | Use the ordinary US name. |
| other kinds of peg or pin | use the specific object name | The regional equivalence applies only to the laundry fastener. |
Quick tests
Decision test
Are you naming the small fastener used to hold washing on a line?
If yes: Use “clothes peg” for UK wording or “clothespin” for US wording.
If no: For another type of peg or pin, use the term for that object rather than treating the words as general synonyms.
Caveat: Scope the equivalence to the laundry device; “peg” and “pin” have broader unrelated senses.
Examples
She clipped the shirt to the line with a clothes peg.
UK English commonly uses “clothes peg” for the laundry fastener.
He bought a bag of wooden clothespins.
US English commonly uses “clothespin” for the same device.
The map was fixed to the board with drawing pins.
A different kind of pin is outside the clothes-peg/clothespin equivalence.
Further guidance
Core difference
Use the ordinary UK name.
Fast Test
Use “clothes peg” for UK wording or “clothespin” for US wording. For another type of peg or pin, use the term for that object rather than treating the words as general synonyms.
Usage Boundary
Scope the equivalence to the laundry device; “peg” and “pin” have broader unrelated senses.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- clothes peg (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Clothes peg is marked UK; Cambridge gives US clothespin as the counterpart for the small device used to hold washing on a line.
- clothespin (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Clothespin is marked US; Cambridge gives UK clothes peg as the counterpart for the same laundry device.