Is the term hanger or coat hanger used more often in colloquial speech in American English? I'm afraid Google Ngram is of no help here, as the first word has several meanings, plus we are talking about colloquial speech here.
Learn English – ‘Hanger’ or ‘coat hanger’ for AmE
american-english
Best Answer
Coat hanger, clothes hanger, and just plain hanger are all used. Largely the choice depends on the context and the hanger style. The things in the entry way closet are coat hangers, the ones in the bedroom closets are just hangers, and the ones on the racks at J C Penney's are clothes hangers.
Normally when you say "coat hanger" you are referring to a heavier-duty hanger intended for coats and other heavy garments. Likewise, a "clothes hanger" is more likely to be a bit on the heavy-duty side. A plain old "hanger" is generally going to be the flimsy wire thing.