Illustration of sword
- 1 pommel
- 2 hilt
- 3 guard
- 4 blade
sword
noun
ˈsȯrd 
often attributive
1
: a weapon (such as a cutlass or rapier) with a long blade for cutting or thrusting that is often used as a symbol of honor or authority
2
a
: an agency or instrument of destruction or combat
b
: the use of force
the pen is mightier than the sword
E. G. Bulwer-Lytton
E. G. Bulwer-Lytton3
: coercive power
4
: something that resembles a sword
swordlike
ˈsȯrd-ˌlīk
adjective 
Synonyms
- blade
- brand
- steel
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
once upon a time dueling with swords was the gentlemanly way to settle a point of honor
Recent Examples on the Web Death — by gun, by sword, by pink animé plushy — is a given; the jokes, and the wasabi peas, are free. Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 2 Aug. 2022 The swift movement of the sword takes the top off the bottle to rousing applause. Jim Dobson, Forbes, 31 July 2022 The main difference between the artworks is the presence of a sword resting on the Hatra statue’s left hip. Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 July 2022 That name was fabricated, culled from a list of popular Japanese names, as was the team (a katana is a type of Japanese sword). Matt Porter, BostonGlobe.com, 9 July 2022 Even the challenges that fall into Amleth’s path, such as the acquisition of a uniquely powerful sword, are a little deadened by obvious outcomes. K. Austin Collins, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2022 Even the origin story of the sword in the stone gets questioned. Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Mar. 2022 In the event of a stray axe swing or one wrong thrust of a sword, at least the guy holding the camera could keep rolling. Nick Romano, EW.com, 23 Feb. 2022 The Witcher has repeatedly warned us that the time of sword and axe is nigh — but as the season-two finale begins, the Deathless Mother settles for a knife. Scott Meslow, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2021 See More
Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 2 Aug. 2022 The swift movement of the sword takes the top off the bottle to rousing applause. Jim Dobson, Forbes, 31 July 2022 The main difference between the artworks is the presence of a sword resting on the Hatra statue’s left hip. Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 July 2022 That name was fabricated, culled from a list of popular Japanese names, as was the team (a katana is a type of Japanese sword). Matt Porter, BostonGlobe.com, 9 July 2022 Even the challenges that fall into Amleth’s path, such as the acquisition of a uniquely powerful sword, are a little deadened by obvious outcomes. K. Austin Collins, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2022 Even the origin story of the sword in the stone gets questioned. Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Mar. 2022 In the event of a stray axe swing or one wrong thrust of a sword, at least the guy holding the camera could keep rolling. Nick Romano, EW.com, 23 Feb. 2022 The Witcher has repeatedly warned us that the time of sword and axe is nigh — but as the season-two finale begins, the Deathless Mother settles for a knife. Scott Meslow, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English sweord; akin to Old High German swert sword
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing sword
Kids Definition
sword
noun
ˈsȯrd
: a weapon having a long blade usually with a sharp point and edge
sword
noun
as in blade
a hand weapon with a length of metal sharpened on one or both sides and usually tapered to a sharp point once upon a time dueling with swords was the gentlemanly way to settle a point of honor Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- blade
- steel
- sabre
- saber
- broadsword
- scimitar
- rapier
- cutlass
- brand
- smallsword