Word Explorer

Pocketknife

A knife with blades or tools that the user can fold or retract into its handle, and of a size small enough for carrying safely and handily in a pocket. Since the late 19th century the term "penknife" has not been distinct from "pocketknife", but the latter tends to refer to larger and more robust versions, sometimes with more attached tools, suited to heavier duty for casual or ad hoc applications outdoors or in workshops.

📖 Definitions of "Pocketknife"

noun
  1. 1

    A knife with blades or tools that the user can fold or retract into its handle, and of a size small enough for carrying safely and handily in a pocket. Since the late 19th century the term "penknife" has not been distinct from "pocketknife", but the latter tends to refer to larger and more robust versions, sometimes with more attached tools, suited to heavier duty for casual or ad hoc applications outdoors or in workshops.

🔄 Synonyms of "Pocketknife"

1 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.

WordDefinition
pocket knifenounAlternative spelling of pocketknife. [A knife small enough for carrying safely and handily in a pocket; usually a folding knife (with blades or tools that the user can fold or retract into the handle).]

💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Pocketknife"

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

WordDefinition
pocket knifenounAlternative spelling of pocketknife. [A knife small enough for carrying safely and handily in a pocket; usually a folding knife (with blades or tools that the user can fold or retract into the handle).]
pocket-knifenounAlternative spelling of pocketknife. [A knife small enough for carrying safely and handily in a pocket; usually a folding knife (with blades or tools that the user can fold or retract into the handle).]
penknifenounA small pocketknife; (loosely) any pocketknife.
foldernoun(computing) A virtual container in a computer's file system, in which files and other folders may be stored. The files and subfolders in a folder are usually related.
jack-knifenounA compact folding knife.
pocket lightnounA flashlight small enough to fit in someone's pocket.
clasp-knifenounA knife with a hinged blade or blades that, for safety when not in use, can be folded into a slot in the handle.
pocketnoun(clothing) A bag stitched to an item of clothing, used for carrying small items.
utility knifenounA cutting tool that has a thin interchangeable blade that (often) retracts or folds into the handle.
pocket pistolnounA semi-automatic handgun designed to be carried inconspicuously in a pocket of one's clothing.
slipjointnoun(metonymic) A knife or other tool with such a joint; usually a pocketknife.
pocketlightnounAlternative form of pocket light. [A flashlight small enough to fit in someone's pocket.]
switchknifenounA knife with a switchblade.
jackknifenoun(statistics) A resampling method that applies estimators to all subsamples that each omit a single different group (possibly of a single datapoint) of the original sample to provide a sample distribution of the estimate.
gravity knifenounA type of knife that with the press of a button, allows the blade to drop out of the handle, and then quickly opened up full, for quick use, also allowing it to be flicked open with a flick of the wrist.
paperknifenounA knife for cutting paper or opening envelopes.
whittlenounA knife; especially, a clasp-knife, pocket knife, or sheath knife.
flick knifenoun(British, Ireland) A type of knife which has the blade mounted on a pivot so that it can fold back sideways into the handle when not in use, but can flick out straight, usually with a spring-loaded mechanism, when required.
butterfly knifenounA folding pocket knife with two handles counter-rotating around the tang such that, when closed, the blade is concealed within grooves in the handles.
byknifenounA secondary knife carried beside a dagger or short sword.

Words Strongly Associated with "Pocketknife"

These words statistically appear in the same text as "pocketknife" (Google Books Ngrams).

🎨 Adjectives for "Pocketknife"

Popular adjectives used to describe this word in books.

📝 Common Phrases with "Pocketknife"

Words that come before

Words that come after

  • pocketknife.
  • pocketknifeand
  • pocketknifeto
  • pocketknifein
  • pocketknifewith
  • pocketknifefrom
  • pocketknifeor
  • pocketknifehe
  • pocketknifethat
  • pocketknifeout
  • pocketknifeon
  • pocketknifewas
  • pocketknifefor
  • pocketknifeis

🌐 Broader and Narrower Concepts

More General (hypernyms)

More Specific (hyponyms)

Translate “Pocketknife” into Another Language

Pick a language — the word will be pre-filled in the translator.

🔗 Explore Related Words

Home/Dictionary/Pocketknife