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
That matters because the companies best positioned for China’s next stage of consumer growth may not be those selling another handbag, car, or appliance.
From Barron's • Jun. 19, 2026
Grizzly Research previously shorted review website Trustpilot and household appliance company SharkNinja.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 19, 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
There wasn’t the smooth exterior with a familiar appliance company name, no sir.
From "The Last Last-Day-of-Summer" by Lamar Giles
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.
