pliers

British  

/ ˈplaɪəz /

plural noun

1. a gripping tool consisting of two hinged arms with usually serrated jaws that close on the workpiece

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Etymology

Origin of pliers

C16: from _ply ¹

Explanation

A pair of pliers is a tool that you can use to twist metal or to grip a tiny object. Jewelry makers often use small, narrow pliers to bend thin pieces of wire. There are many different types of pliers that do various jobs, from large, wrench-like pliers that plumbers use on pipes to tiny "needle-nose pliers" that electricians can fit into narrow spaces and grip small wires. Why pliers always come in "pairs" like jeans, eyeglasses, and scissors is a bit of a mystery. The word stems from the verb ply, "work with" or "use."

Example Sentences

Later on, they developed a bright and melodic take on dancehall with the duo Chaka Demus & Pliers, scoring hits with songs such as Tease Me and Murder She Wrote in the early 1990s.

From BBC • Jan. 26, 2026

Pliers were needed to turn on the bathroom sink.

From New York Times • Aug. 5, 2019

Get a Grip Equipped with a tungsten carbide cutter to handle braided line, the XTools Floating Pliers have soft-grip handles and come with a safety lanyard to help prevent loss overboard.

From Time Magazine Archive

"Pliers will help you lift and squeeze things."

From Time Magazine Archive

Pliers ceased to be privately owned and a tire pump belonged to the last man who had picked it up.

From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck