screwdriver

American  

[skroo-drahy-ver] / ˈskruˌdraɪ vər /

noun

• screwdrivers
  plural

1. a hand tool for turning a screw, consisting of a handle attached to a long, narrow shank, usually of metal, which tapers and flattens out to a tip that fits into the slotted head of a screw.

2. a mixed drink made with vodka and orange juice.

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screwdriver British  

/ ˈskruːˌdraɪvə /

noun

1. a tool used for turning screws, usually having a handle of wood, plastic, etc, and a steel shank with a flattened square-cut tip that fits into a slot in the head of the screw

2. an alcoholic beverage consisting of orange juice and vodka

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• screwdrivers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of screwdriver

First recorded in 1770–80; screw + driver

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

screwdriver screwdrivers

So even though he’s not the inventor, Henry Phillips will forever be remembered for the Phillips-head screw and screwdriver.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 12, 2026

Marks that look like they were made with a screwdriver or crowbar were left behind.

From BBC ● Jan. 1, 2025

Getting any product to consumers, whether it's a can of sardines or a screwdriver, requires that supply chains function well.

From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2024

Let's say you want to train a robot so it understands how to use tools and can then quickly learn to make repairs around your house with a hammer, wrench, and screwdriver.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 3, 2024

He got one of the cans out and set it on the table and unscrewed the cap and punched out the metal seal with a screwdriver.

From "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy

Handheld multitools are a great item to keep on hand, with many options featuring various knives, bottle openers, screwdrivers, and even scissors.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 20, 2026

“You think you’re going to go there and the hammers and the screwdrivers will still be hanging on the wall?” he asked her.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

"They use screwdrivers to uproot the succulents and they carry backpacks and sacks to keep the stolen plants."

From BBC ● Dec. 25, 2024

Keep a box with these essential basics: a tape measure, claw hammer, utility knife, level, crescent wrenches, hex keys, a handsaw, pliers, multiple screwdrivers and a collection of screws and nails.

From Seattle Times ● May 29, 2023

Maybe it will even be a place where I trade my guns and knives for more productive tools, screwdrivers and nails and shovels.

From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth