switchblade

noun

switch·​blade ˈswich-ˌblād How to pronounce switchblade (audio)
: a pocketknife having the blade spring-operated so that pressure on a release catch causes it to fly open

called also switchblade knife

Examples of switchblade in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Videos shared online as far back as May 2022 show Ukrainian troops using Switchblade suicide drones, which have wings that pop out like a switchblade and are made by U.S. defense contractor AeroVironment, to target Russian forces. Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024 When Trump was 13, his father found his collection of switchblades (bought after seeing West Side Story) and shipped him off to a military academy known for corporal punishment. EW.com, 3 Oct. 2024 As a series of alarming chases through the woods, Cuckoo is a fantastic showcase of Singer’s ability to conjure atmospheric unease and Schafer’s chops as a rough-and-tumble final girl armed with a switchblade. Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 9 Aug. 2024 But Leland is also ready, with a switchblade iPhone case and a dagger in a hidden compartment in his briefcase. Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 18 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for switchblade 

Word History

First Known Use

1932, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of switchblade was in 1932

Dictionary Entries Near switchblade

Cite this Entry

“Switchblade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/switchblade. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

switchblade

noun
switch·​blade -ˌblād How to pronounce switchblade (audio)
: a pocketknife with a spring-operated blade
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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