appliance
Americannoun
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an instrument, apparatus, or device for a particular purpose or use.
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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.
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the act of applying; application.
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Archaic. a measure; stratagem.
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Obsolete. compliance.
verb (used with object)
noun
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a machine or device, esp an electrical one used domestically
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any piece of equipment having a specific function
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a device fitted to a machine or tool to adapt it for a specific purpose
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another name for a fire engine
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of appliance
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."
Vocabulary lists containing appliance
List 2
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"A Bright Idea" and "What Is Coding Anyway?"
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List 6
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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.
Across the frequencies examined, the study ruled out transmissions stronger than roughly 10-110 watts, comparable to the power consumption of a typical household appliance.
From Science Daily • Jun. 23, 2026
Mon Valley’s sheet steel is now mostly sold to the appliance industry.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026
In April, it announced a “personal superintelligence,” called Muse Spark, designed to answer complex questions including how to repair a broken appliance from a photo, perform coding and process social data across every platform.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026
Workers outside the core chip divisions are expected to receive lower payouts, with local reports suggesting around 6 million won for those in smartphone and home appliance units.
From Barron's • May 22, 2026
Mom also bought some electric heaters and a refrigerator on layaway, and we’d go to the appliance store and put down a few dollars every month, figuring they’d be ours by wintertime.
From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls
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.
