Synonyms

pocketknife

American

[pok-it-nahyf] / ˈpɒk ɪtˌnaɪf /

noun

plural

pocketknives

a knife with one or more blades that fold into the handle, suitable for carrying in the pocket.

pocketknife British

/ ˈpɒkɪtˌnaɪf /

noun

a small knife with one or more blades that fold into the handle; penknife

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of pocketknife

First recorded in 1720–30; pocket + knife

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I had a dandy pocketknife, and a darn good dog; that was about all a boy could hope for in those days.

From Literature

One was for a spyglass, one for a whorly, whistling shell, and one for a fat red pocketknife in a sheath.

From Literature

Warren was sitting on a box with his pocketknife and a whetstone and looked up, startled, as they came.

From Literature

When Gibby called at eleven forty-five, Michael was making a list of things he needed to add to the stash, like cereal, powdered milk, and two pocketknives.

From Literature

He also placed his hand puppets on wall-mounted boxes and ordered his collection of daggers and pocketknives just so.

From New York Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023