pushpin

American  

[poosh-pin] / ˈpʊʃˌpɪn /

noun

1. a short pin having a spool-shaped head of plastic, glass, or metal, used for affixing material to a bulletin board, wall, or the like.

2. an early children's game.

3. Archaic. child's play; triviality.

---

pushpin British  

/ ˈpʊʃˌpɪn /

noun

1. a pin with a small ball-shaped head

---

Etymology

Origin of pushpin

1580–90, for an earlier sense; push + pin

Compare meaning

How does pushpin compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• thumbtack vs. pushpin

Example Sentences

If you can't get glasses, two pieces of paper and a pushpin might do the trick.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2024

Then using the pushpin thumbtack, poke holes up and down the bag.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 1, 2023

Microbes are supposed to be microscopic, but this one, tentatively dubbed Thiomargarita magnifica, can be 5000 times bigger than many bacterial cells—as long as a pushpin.

From Science Magazine • Dec. 14, 2022

Should one poke a hole in the rounder end of the egg with a pushpin?

From Seattle Times • Apr. 19, 2017

There are also high-five stickers held up by the same pushpin as my baseball schedule.

From "A High Five for Glenn Burke" by Phil Bildner