Cord or cable: what is the difference?
A cord is a flexible electrical lead with a plug at one or both ends: the one on a lamp, or a charging cord. A cable is insulated conductors laid up together, which covers almost everything else. Every cord is a kind of cable; not every cable is a cord.
1plug or more on every cord
1.8 mbraided cord on Cubical C1, Squared S1 and Cylindric UX1
2 mor 3 m: Extend E1
1 mor 2 m: USB-C Cord A1
The short answer
Merriam-Webster defines a cord as “a small flexible insulated electrical cable having a plug at one or both ends”. A cable is the wider word: electrical conductors, each insulated, laid up together. So every cord is a kind of cable, one made to bend and to be plugged in.
Where you hear which
Cord is the word for the lead on a lamp, an appliance or a charger, and in American English for an extension cord. Cable is the word for the rest: the wiring in the wall, and most data leads, a USB cable or a network cable. British English often says lead, or flex, where American English says cord.
Most people use the two loosely, and both are understood. If it bends and has a plug, cord is the closer word.
Why a cord should look like one
A cord is the part of a product you see and touch every day, so it deserves the same care as the product. Every Cords® cord is braided: a woven outer layer that is soft to the touch, flexible, and drapes without kinks.
| Product | Its cord |
|---|---|
| Cubical C1 | 1.8 m, braided |
| Circular C2 | Up to 1.6 m, braided, set to length |
| Squared S1 | 1.8 m, braided |
| Cylindric UX1 | 1.8 m, braided |
| Extend E1 | 2 m or 3 m, braided |
| USB-C Cord A1 | 1 m or 2 m, braided, USB-C at both ends |
Where the cords go: How to hide cords at the desk and behind the TV
Questions
Is a cord the same as a cable?
A cord is a kind of cable: flexible, insulated, with a plug at one or both ends. Cable also covers wiring that never bends or plugs in.
Why is a USB-C lead called a cable?
Mostly habit. By the dictionary it is a cord too: flexible, with a plug at each end. Data leads have long been called cables.
What is a flex?
The British word for the flexible lead on an appliance. American English says cord.
What is a braided cord?
A cord with a woven outer layer over its insulation. It is softer to the touch and drapes like fabric.
What is an extension cord?
The American name for a cord that brings sockets further from the wall. British English says extension lead.
Do all Cords® products have braided cords?
Yes: Cubical C1, Circular C2, Squared S1, Cylindric UX1, Extend E1 and USB-C Cord A1.
Sources
Merriam-Webster, cord and cable; Cambridge Dictionary, flex (UK; US cord). Cord lengths and materials from the specifications of the Cords® range.
