screwdriver

noun

screw·​driv·​er ˈskrü-ˌdrī-vər How to pronounce screwdriver (audio)
plural screwdrivers
1
: a tool for turning screws see also flathead screwdriver, phillips screwdriver
2
: vodka and orange juice served with ice

Examples of screwdriver in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Anyone trying to pound a nail with a screwdriver soon realizes that tools are good for tasks they were designed for and useless for anything else. John P. Jackson, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2025 Pull up the loose boards — a thin screwdriver or paint scraper can help pry them out — then apply a layer of wood glue or a thin bead of construction adhesive, set the boards back in place, and hold them down with something heavy until the adhesive sets. Clark Hodgin, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025 During the ensuing struggle, one of the suspects pulled out a screwdriver and jammed it into his back. Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 28 Mar. 2025 The Bird Buddy ships with both a pole mount (a Philips head screwdriver is required for installation) and a metal triangle. PC Magazine, 26 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for screwdriver

Word History

First Known Use

1735, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of screwdriver was in 1735

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Cite this Entry

“Screwdriver.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/screwdriver. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

screwdriver

noun
screw·​driv·​er ˈskrü-ˌdrī-vər How to pronounce screwdriver (audio)
: a tool for turning screws

More from Merriam-Webster on screwdriver

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