fixture
gb/fˈɪkst͡ʃɚ/ us/fˈɪkst͡ʃɚ/
B1
English
~ 7900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
permanently attached building equipment
A piece of equipment, like a light or sink, that is attached to a building and usually stays there.
Usage pattern:
a [type] fixture in [a room/place]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'fixture' with 'furniture'. A 'fixture' is attached to the building (like a sink or a light), while 'furniture' can be moved (like a table or chair). Another mistake is saying 'light furniture' when they mean 'light fixture'.
Synonyms
fitting (Often used in British English for items like lights or taps attached to a building; very close in meaning.)
Antonyms
portable (Describes equipment that can be easily moved and is not fixed to the building.)
Collocations
light fixture
|bathroom fixtures
|kitchen fixtures
|plumbing fixtures
|electrical fixtures
|ceiling fixtures
Themes
housing
|objects
|daily life
|daily_life
Examples
- The apartment comes with new kitchen fixtures, including a modern sink and tap.
- We need to replace the old bathroom fixtures before we sell the house.
- The electrician installed several ceiling fixtures in the living room.
Learner examples
- The light fixture is on the ceiling.
- This house has very old bathroom fixtures.
- They put new kitchen fixtures in the small flat.
Noun
B2
entity
2
person or thing always present
A person or thing that is always in the same place or activity and is expected to be there.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a fixture at [a place]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'fixture' here means only a physical object, but it is also used for people. Another mistake is saying 'He is fixing here' instead of 'He is a fixture here'; 'fixing' is a verb and does not mean 'always present'.
Synonyms
regular (Focuses on someone who comes often, but does not always suggest the same sense of long-term, almost permanent presence as 'fixture'.)
Antonyms
newcomer (Someone who has just arrived, the opposite of a long-standing, expected presence.)
Collocations
a fixture at
|a fixture in
|almost a permanent fixture
|long-time fixture
|local fixture
Themes
people
|social life
|work
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- After twenty years, she has become a fixture at the local café.
- The old piano was a fixture in our family home.
- He’s a fixture in the tech scene, always appearing at major conferences.
Learner examples
- He is a fixture at this bar; he comes every night.
- That teacher is a fixture in the school; everyone knows him.
- The big clock is a fixture in the town square.
Noun
B2
event
3
scheduled sports match or game
A sports game that is planned to happen at a certain time and place.
Usage pattern:
a [type] fixture against [team]
Common mistake:
Many learners do not know this sports use and only understand 'fixture' as equipment in a building. In British sports news, 'fixture' almost always means a planned match, not a light or sink.
Synonyms
match (The usual everyday word for a single game; 'fixture' emphasizes that it is on an official schedule, especially in British English.)
Antonyms
cancellation (When a planned match is called off, the opposite of holding the scheduled fixture.)
Collocations
league fixture
|home fixture
|away fixture
|cup fixture
|fixture list
|midweek fixture
Themes
sports
|time
|events
Examples
- Saturday’s home fixture against Manchester United has been postponed.
- The club faces a tough run of fixtures over the next month.
- The full fixture list will be published next week.
Learner examples
- Our next fixture is on Sunday afternoon.
- They have three difficult fixtures this month.
- The team checked the fixture list for their next game.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
4
item legally part of property
In property law, something that is fixed to a building and is treated as part of the building when it is sold.
Usage pattern:
fixtures and [other items] in [a property]
Common mistake:
Learners often do not realize that 'fixture' has a special legal meaning. In everyday speech, people may use 'fixtures' loosely, but in contracts it can decide what stays with the house. Do not confuse this with general 'furniture', which is usually not a fixture in law.
Synonyms
appurtenance (A formal legal term for something that belongs to and passes with property; broader and more technical than 'fixture'.)
Antonyms
chattel (A legal term for movable personal property that is not fixed to the land or building, the opposite of a fixture in property law.)
Collocations
fixtures and fittings
|fixtures and chattels
|tenant's fixtures
|trade fixtures
|dispute over fixtures
Themes
law
|real estate
|business
|housing
Examples
- There was a legal dispute over whether the built-in wardrobes were fixtures or personal property.
- The contract clearly states which fixtures and fittings are included in the sale.
- In some jurisdictions, light fittings are treated as fixtures that remain with the house.
Learner examples
- In law, a fixture stays with the house when you sell it.
- They argued in court about whether the shelves were fixtures.
- The lawyer explained which items were fixtures and which were not.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
5
holding device in manufacturing
In factory work, a tool that holds a part in one place while a machine works on it.
Usage pattern:
a [type] fixture for [a process]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this technical use with general building fixtures like lights and sinks. In engineering texts, 'fixture' almost always refers to a holding device, not room equipment.
Synonyms
jig (A related engineering tool; a jig often also guides the cutting tool, while a fixture mainly holds the workpiece in place.)
Antonyms
handheld (Describes work done by hand without a device to fix the part in place, the opposite of using a fixture for support.)
Collocations
welding fixture
|drilling fixture
|assembly fixture
|custom fixture
|tooling fixture
Themes
engineering
|technology
|industry
|work
Examples
- The engineer designed a custom fixture to hold the metal plates during drilling.
- Using the wrong fixture can lead to vibration and poor-quality cuts.
- All parts are clamped into the fixture before the welding robot starts its cycle.
Learner examples
- The part sits in a fixture while the machine cuts it.
- They built a new fixture for the welding robot.
- A good fixture helps the worker make the same part many times.
Grammar
Dictionary form
fixture
IPA
GB/fˈɪkst͡ʃɚ/
US/fˈɪkst͡ʃɚ/
Syllables & stress
fix - ture (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (fix)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: fixture
- Plural: fixtures
Word family
Forms
fixtures
noun
Core family
fix
verb A2
fixed
adjective
Related words
fixable
adjective
fixer
noun
Negative and opposite forms
unfixed
adjective
unfixable
adjective
Advanced or less common
fixation
noun
Expressions
a fixture in
1/ə fˈɪkst͡ʃɚ ˈɪn/
fixed phrase
long-term regular part of something
Someone or something that has been part of a place, group, or activity for a long time and is expected to be there.
Examples
- She’s a fixture in the local music scene.
- That bakery is a fixture in the neighborhood.
- For decades, he was a fixture in national politics.
bathroom fixtures
1/bˈæθɹˌum fˈɪkst͡ʃɚz/
fixed phrase
fixed equipment in a bathroom
The fixed things in a bathroom, like the sink, toilet, and shower.
Examples
- The hotel proudly advertises its luxury bathroom fixtures.
- We decided to upgrade the bathroom fixtures before renting out the apartment.
- Rust had formed around several of the old bathroom fixtures.
light fixture
1/lˈaɪt fˈɪkst͡ʃɚ/
fixed phrase
fixed device holding a light
A thing attached to a wall or ceiling that holds a light bulb or lamp.
Examples
- The light fixture in the hallway needs to be replaced.
- They chose a modern light fixture for the dining room.
- Be sure to turn off the power before working on any light fixture.
permanent fixture
1/pˈɚmənənt fˈɪkst͡ʃɚ/
fixed phrase
someone or something always present
A person or thing that is always in a place or situation and seems like it will never leave.
Examples
- After ten years, she’s become a permanent fixture in the office.
- That old sofa was a permanent fixture in our living room when I was a child.
- He’s a permanent fixture on the talk show circuit these days.