sword

American  

[sawrd, sohrd] / sɔrd, soʊrd /

noun

swords plural

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.

---

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

---

sword More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing sword

• at sword's point
• cross swords

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• swordless
  adjective
• swordlike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• swords
  plural

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

See Examples For:

sword swords

Momentum has become a double-edged sword for investors chasing the AI boom.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026

"I think AI is a double-edged sword," Leung said when asked about its impact.

From Barron's ● Jun. 19, 2026

Glasgow played so well in that first half and they really put us to the sword.

From BBC ● Jun. 6, 2026

The scene then cuts to the “she” in question, wearing a red cape and holding a familiar sword.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 2026

The sword was handed to Don Quixote and his spurs were buckled.

From "Adventures of Don Quixote" by Argentina Palacios

"For now, people are sharpening their swords and firming up their positions," auto analyst Stefan Bratzel of the Centre of Automotive Management told AFP.

From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026

America embarked on the digital equivalent of turning swords into plowshares.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026

She’s also spoken about swords as a symbol of authority.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2026

Massive haul of Roman Empire crockery and swords hidden in Swiss lake.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 14, 2026

I wonder if he will actually give them swords and muskets.

From "Blood on the River" by Elisa Carbone

Related Words

• blade
• dagger
• weapon