blacksmith

American  

[blak-smith] / ˈblækˌsmɪθ /

noun

1. a person who makes horseshoes and shoes horses.

2. a person who forges objects of iron.

3. a blackish damselfish, Chromis punctipinnis, inhabiting coastal waters off southern California.

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blacksmith British  

/ ˈblækˌsmɪθ /

noun

1. an artisan who works iron with a furnace, anvil, hammer, etc

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Etymology

Origin of blacksmith

1250–1300; Middle English; black (in reference to iron or black metal), smith ( def. ); whitesmith

Explanation

A blacksmith is someone who makes tools and other objects out of metal. Working as a blacksmith involves heating metal then bending and hammering it into the desired shape. Blacksmiths mainly work with iron and steel, heating it until it's soft enough to bend, fold, and shape using tools. A blacksmith can make things like wrought iron fences and gates, knives and other cooking utensils, and metal light fixtures. While today many metal items once made by blacksmiths are mass produced in factories, there's a renewed interest in learning to make metal objects by hand.

Example Sentences

The game was played on a field behind the shop of the local blacksmith.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 24, 2025

Became a blacksmith — he put the shoes on the horses that Barton and his constables were going to use to pursue Las Manillas.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 10, 2025

"What they've done to transform it is remarkable", said the former railway blacksmith, who has lived in Swindon's historical railway village since 1968.

From BBC • Aug. 24, 2024

Shortly afterward Hugh the blacksmith and his wife and child are being crushed by the crowds desperately pushing against the soldiers standing in the way of their freedom.

From Salon • Jul. 18, 2024

The blacksmith made a loop with his finger, then tied an invisible bow in the air.

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack