appliance
Americannoun
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appliances
plural
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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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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.
See Examples For:
This week at the international home appliance exhibition IFA 2026 in Berlin, appliance maker Miele unveiled a smart dishwasher.
From Slate ● Sep. 14, 2026
Cameras have been the name of the game in the appliance world for some time now.
From Slate ● Sep. 14, 2026
But the arithmetic was suddenly visible anyway: one broken appliance repaired, one replacement avoided, however many dollars still in somebody’s pocket.
From Salon ● Sep. 6, 2026
Some appliance retailers are hoping for better days.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
Use positive expressions instead. wrong: “Do not use this appliance in the bathtub.” right: “Go ahead and use this appliance in the bathtub.”
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
Her kitchen, with its high-end tools and appliances, is as immaculate as her manicure.
From Salon ● Sep. 12, 2026
The inventor behind pricey yet sleekly designed vacuum cleaners, hair dryers and other household appliances is turning his focus to oral care with an AI-powered toothbrush that promises to floss teeth at the same time.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
The kitchen is surely the crown jewel of the home thanks to its blue cabinets and state-of-the-art appliances.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 2, 2026
That's enough to cover "always-on" electrical appliances such as fridges and devices left on standby.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
It kind of depressed me to think a human could be so lonely that she would comfort herself with the company of appliances that whistle, and sit alone to eat.
From "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak
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.
