Belt (clothing)

A belt is a flexible band or strap, typically made of leather, plastic, or heavy cloth, worn around the natural waist or near it (as far down as the hips). Belts are worn to keep clothing in place or for aesthetic reasons. The ends of a belt are free, and a buckle is often used to form the belt into a loop by securing one end to another part of the belt, at or near the other end, though they may also be without a buckle and be simply tied using some form of knot. Often, the resulting loop is smaller than the hips. Belts come in many lengths because of the variety in waist sizes. Belt buckles can often be adjusted to suit the wearer's waist circumference.

Belts can also be used as whipping weapons in fighting and corporal punishment. Notably, belts are associated with parents using them on children for physical discipline which sometimes leads to belts used as a symbol of child abuse.