A choker is a necklace or band worn tightly around the neck, fitting snugly like a collar rather than hanging down. Chokers have been popular in different eras throughout history. In the 1990s, stretchy black chokers became a fashion trend among teenagers. Victorian women wore velvet ribbon chokers with cameo brooches. Today, you might see chokers made from leather, lace, beads, or precious metals.

A choker sits right at the base of the neck near someone's throat, though of course it doesn't actually choke anyone. A choker is quite different from a regular necklace, which hangs lower on the chest with extra chain length. Some chokers are simple bands, while others have dangling pendants or decorative elements.

In sports, a choker means something completely different: a person or team that fails under pressure at a critical moment. If a basketball player usually makes free throws but misses crucial ones in the championship game, someone might call them a choker. The word suggests that pressure or nervousness caused the failure, as if the person couldn't breathe normally in that tense situation.