appliance

American  

[uh-plahy-uhns] / əˈplaɪ əns /

noun

• appliances
  plural

1. an instrument, apparatus, or device for a particular purpose or use.

2. a piece of equipment, usually operated electrically, especially for use in the home or for performance of domestic chores, as a refrigerator, washing machine, or toaster.

3. the act of applying; application.

4. Archaic. a measure; stratagem.

5. Obsolete. compliance.

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verb (used with object)

applianced, appliancing

1. to equip with appliances.

   a fully applianced kitchen.

appliance British  

/ əˈplaɪəns /

noun

1. a machine or device, esp an electrical one used domestically

2. any piece of equipment having a specific function

3. a device fitted to a machine or tool to adapt it for a specific purpose

4. another name for a fire engine

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• reappliance
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• appliances
  plural

Etymology

Origin of appliance

First recorded in 1555–65; apply + -ance

Explanation

An appliance is a tool or device that performs a certain job. Your toaster is an appliance, and so is your dishwasher. Your dog? Not so much. Most modern homes are full of appliances that perform various useful tasks — or help you perform them. A hairdryer is an appliance that dries your hair, and a television is an appliance that offers hours of mindless entertainment. The earliest meaning of the word was "action of putting into use," from the verb apply, with its Latin root, applicare, which figuratively means "devote oneself to" or "give attention."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

appliance appliances

The fan acts as a convection oven, an appliance that circulates hot air in order to cook food quickly and evenly.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026

That would double the size of the plant, allowing Universal to offer more engineering and assembly work on the metal parts the company makes for appliance and automotive customers in Mexico.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

You can buy one for just one room or you can get multiple indoor units to work with a single outdoor condenser, according to LG, the household appliance and white goods retailer.

From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026

It's important women have the option to enter the profession, said Yang Mengchen, who leads another all-women repair and appliance cleaning team.

From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026

In the appliance store, when the clerk had asked if he was interested in the nineteen-inch screen Billy had said no, he wanted the thirty-two-inch screen.

From "145th Street: Short Stories" by Walter Dean Myers

For now, Carney's planned Canadian retaliatory duties are strategic "dollar-for-dollar" countermeasures focused on steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, electronics, pulp and paper - though the list is still being finalised.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

According to Canadian media, Frechette said Washington wanted concessions on Quebec's rules for appliances and instruction manuals, as well as its law promoting French-language cultural content.

From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026

He said U.S. goods subject to the levies will be concentrated in sectors such as steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, paper and electronics.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026

Located near the ocean, the first home is a 1,300-square-foot bungalow with two bedrooms and a streamlined gallery kitchen featuring Caesarstone counters and Miele appliances.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026

She got a juicer, a portable step exerciser, and some other household appliances from the schoolteachers.

From "Krik? Krak!" by Edwidge Danticat

Related Words

• device
• gadget
• instrument
• tool