locksmith
Americannoun
-
locksmiths
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of locksmith
1200–50; Middle English loksmith (first attested as surname). See lock 1, smith
Explanation
If your job is installing locks on people's houses and fixing their broken locks, you can call yourself a locksmith. A locksmith knows all about locks; she makes them, puts them on doors, and repairs them. If you've ever locked yourself out of your house, the person to call for help is a locksmith. When you need a new copy of your apartment key, you can also visit a locksmith. The word comes from lock and smith, from the Old English smið, "one who works with metal."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
When a property is clearly abandoned, Thogmartin has the authority to hire a locksmith to allow for a full inspection by potential bidders.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
On a recent wintry night, Nodler was excited to spot two familiar guests at a table enjoying chicken schnitzel and homemade milk bread: the butcher shop owner and town locksmith.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 2026
Her brother Trevor, a locksmith and security systems expert, helps her in and out of the buildings - with intel from The Inside Man, Etienne, who is Belgian-British.
From BBC ● Feb. 9, 2026
The damage was so bad that the couple had to pay another locksmith to replace the entire door and frame at an additional cost of £2,244.
From BBC ● Jan. 29, 2026
Breathing heavily he said to himself, "So I didn't need the locksmith," and he set his head against the door handle to open the door completely.
From "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka
Such orders can be used to seek compensation for locksmiths and lost wages, as well as expediting access to CalFresh and other safety-net programs.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 17, 2024
By determining protein structure, scientists can create blueprints that guide development of more effective medications, much like locksmiths designing keys to fit into specific locks.
From Science Daily ● May 15, 2024
I've also had to call locksmiths several times when I have lost the keys to my flat.
From BBC ● Jan. 17, 2024
It is page upon black-and-white page of data: ratings of plumbers, roofers, house painters, locksmiths, doctors, fence builders, nursing homes, etc., etc.
From Washington Post ● May 24, 2022
I repeated the proverb, exulting, Love laughs at locksmiths!
From The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 20 (of 25) by Robert Louis Stevenson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
