noun
crutch
KRUHCH
noun
1
A stick-like support used under the arm to help someone walk when injured.
"He hobbled around on crutches after breaking his ankle."
2
Something relied on for support, often implying an unhealthy dependency.
"Alcohol had become a crutch for him during stressful times."
How to Use Crutch
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA walking aid for an injured leg, or figuratively, something someone leans on too much.
Common pairings
on crutches
use as a crutch
emotional crutch
Word Forms
crutched past tense, crutches plural, crutches singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “crutch”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
He hobbled around on _____ after breaking his ankle.
Etymology
From Old English crycc ("staff, crutch"), related to words in other Germanic languages for a bent support.