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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.


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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of screwdriver

First recorded in 1770–80; screw + driver


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.

See Examples For:

A Costco customer can only buy so many mixed nuts, but a $5 screwdriver sale at Home Depot could—and often did—one day lead to a $100,000 remodel project, or several.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

Videos also see Johnson haphazardly picking up dishes and various items — including a screwdriver and a multi-tool — as he instructs someone off-camera to keep recording.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2025

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

Warren—the man with the screwdriver, who had since returned his jaw to its usual place and gone back to work—raised a hand, but they could see no sign of anybody else.

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

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

The 7ft by 9ft sculpture was made by Global Street Art using hundreds of discarded devices and includes some sonic screwdrivers.

From BBC ● Dec. 9, 2023

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

Brushes, screwdrivers, and spray bottles hung on small hooks along the walls.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

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