utensil

American  

[yoo-ten-suhl] / juˈtɛn səl /

noun

utensils plural

1. any of the instruments or vessels commonly used in a kitchen, dairy, etc..

   eating utensils; baking utensils.

2. any instrument, vessel, or tool serving a useful purpose.

   smoking utensils; fishing utensils; farming utensils.

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utensil British  

/ juːˈtɛnsəl /

noun

1. an implement, tool, or container for practical use

   writing utensils

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Usage

What are other ways to say utensil? A utensil refers to any instrument or vessel serving a useful purpose, especially those commonly used in a kitchen. When should you use this noun over tool, instrument, or implement? Learn more on Thesaurus.com.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• utensils
  plural

Etymology

Origin of utensil

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English (collective singular): “household articles,” from Middle French utensile, from Latin ūtēnsilia, neuter plural of ūtēnsilis “useful,” derivative of ūtī “to use”; see origin at use

Explanation

A utensil is a tool you can hold in your hand and use around the house. In the kitchen, common utensils are the knives, forks, and spoons that we hold in our hands and use to eat. The word utensil comes from the Latin utensilia meaning "things for use." A pen is a writing utensil. A spatula is a cooking utensil. A scrub brush is a cleaning utensil. A knife is a cutting utensil. All of these objects can be held in your hand and are used to get something done.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

utensil utensils

Watching them is like being spoonfed by the streamer’s CEO, Ted Sarandos, who, by pioneering this content model, is waving a utensil in front of us like an airplane coming in for a landing.

From Salon ● Jan. 25, 2026

In fall 2024, many of us were ridding our kitchens of a very common utensil, thanks to a piece in the Atlantic that instructed us to, “Throw Out Your Black Plastic Spatula.”

From Slate ● Jan. 14, 2026

Speaking of trail snacks, these reusable bamboo utensil sets are stylish and practical, making them a perfect gift.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2024

The team's robot is a multi-jointed arm that holds a custom-built utensil at the end that can sense the forces being applied on it.

From Science Daily ● May 9, 2024

All this led up to the day Desdemona dangled a utensil over my mother’s belly.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

Running around, shouting, making noise with utensils, etc.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

"They stole everything: our clothes, shoes, utensils, pots, cups, glasses."

From Barron's ● Jun. 28, 2026

The Food Standards Agency says there are a number of actions businesses can take to avoid cross-contamination, including cleaning utensils, handwashing and storing ingredients separately.

From BBC ● Apr. 15, 2026

The Soviets handed her over to the Gestapo at the beginning of World War II, and she describes coming to the Nazi camp system and being issued clothes and utensils to eat with.

From Slate ● Feb. 17, 2026

At 3 P.M., more than twelve hours after most of us had arrived, we were delivered a container of thin mealie pap and no utensils.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

• appliance
• equipment
• fork
• gadget
• instrument
• knife
• silverware
• tableware
• ware