pocketknife

American  

[pok-it-nahyf] / ˈpɒk ɪtˌnaɪf /

noun

• pocketknives
  plural

1. a knife with one or more blades that fold into the handle, suitable for carrying in the pocket.

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pocketknife British  

/ ˈpɒkɪtˌnaɪf /

noun

1. a small knife with one or more blades that fold into the handle; penknife

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• pocketknives
  plural

Etymology

Origin of pocketknife

First recorded in 1720–30; pocket + knife

Explanation

A pocketknife is a folding knife that's small enough to fit in your pocket. Some fancy pocketknives have many blades and little tools that can fold back into the handle. You can also call a pocketknife a jackknife, or in Britain, a penknife. Pocketknives' blades fold into their handles, so you can safely carry the knife in your pocket or bag. Multi-tool pocketknives, in addition to sharp blades, often have tiny screwdrivers, files, bottle openers, and other tools. Pocketknives are used for whittling, hunting, cutting twine, slicing fruit, and many other tasks.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pocketknife pocketknives

Using the Florida law as an example, perhaps the suspect happens to be carrying a pocketknife.

From Slate ● Dec. 6, 2024

When he saw that Phillips was putting away a pocketknife, he said, he felt betrayed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 8, 2023

Ward searched through his pockets, pulling out two lighters, and told McWhorter he might have a pocketknife.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 24, 2023

Tamariz showed him a trick: a color-changing pocketknife.

From New York Times ● Jan. 2, 2023

He looked at the silver pocketknife in his hand.

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan

Or, they exempted pocketknives, Bea said — meaning, in his estimation, that they would not justify a modern ban on a butterfly knife.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2023

My colleague developed a technique of cutting blocks with his chainsaw, and then the rest of us would sit around with our field pocketknives and split them.

From Scientific American ● Sep. 13, 2022

There are hoodies, sneakers, and off-the-wall branded goods, from pocketknives to fire extinguishers.

From The New Yorker ● Jun. 28, 2016

Q. You’ve been in the news lately because you wanted to allow small pocketknives aboard.

From New York Times ● Apr. 30, 2013

When Gibby called at eleven forty-five, Michael was making a list of things he needed to add to the stash, like cereal, powdered milk, and two pocketknives.

From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly