sword

American  

[sawrd, sohrd] / sɔrd, soʊrd /

noun

1. a weapon having various forms but consisting typically of a long, straight or slightly curved blade, sharp-edged on one or both sides, with one end pointed and the other fixed in a hilt or handle.

2. this weapon as the symbol of military power, punitive justice, authority, etc..

   The pen is mightier than the sword.

3. a cause of death or destruction.

4. war, combat, slaughter, or violence, especially military force or aggression.

   to perish by the sword.

5. Military. Sword. the code name for one of the five D-Day invasion beaches on France's Normandy coast, assaulted by British forces.

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idioms

1. at swords' points, mutually antagonistic or hostile; opposed.

   Father and son are constantly at swords' point.

2. put to the sword, to slay; execute.

   The entire population of the town was put to the sword.

3. cross swords,

   1. to engage in combat; fight.

   2. to disagree violently; argue.

      The board members crossed swords in the selection of a president.

sword British  

/ sɔːd /

noun

1. a thrusting, striking, or cutting weapon with a long blade having one or two cutting edges, a hilt, and usually a crosspiece or guard

2. such a weapon worn on ceremonial occasions as a symbol of authority

3. something resembling a sword, such as the snout of a swordfish

4. to argue or fight

5. 1. violence or power, esp military power

   2. death; destruction

      to put to the sword

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sword More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing sword

• at sword's point
• cross swords

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Other Word Forms

• swordless
  adjective
• swordlike
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of sword

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English sweord; cognate with Dutch zwaard, German Schwert, Old Norse sverth

Explanation

A sword is a weapon with a long, sharp, metal blade. If you want to dress up as a knight for Halloween, you'll definitely need a sword — and maybe a suit of armor. Swords evolved from daggers, which, like knives, have two sharp edges instead of just one. Some time during the Bronze Age, daggers became longer and longer, eventually being classified as swords. These long, sharp weapons were used by soldiers on battlefields, and for self-defense and dueling. Sword can be traced back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to cut or pierce."

Example Sentences

The law’s shield is shattered, and its sword is dulled.

From Slate • May 1, 2026

The highly diversified business model of Google also acts as a double-edged sword for ad growth.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

A significant chunk of recent growth has been driven by healthcare spending from an aging population, a trend he described as a double-edged sword.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

AI enters a culture already sliced and diced by the double-edged sword of digital technology.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

I watch the rope of water morph into the shape of a sword and freeze into ice by the time Tano’s fingers close around the hilt.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

Related Words

• blade
• dagger
• weapon