noun ·2 syllables ·Uncommon ·College level

Definitions

Noun

1. 1
   A pincer-like gripping tool that multiplies the strength of the user's hand, often used for bending things. plural, plural-only

   "I need a pair of pliers to get a good grip on that broken screw."

2. 2
   plural of plier form-of, plural
3. 3
   a gripping hand tool with two hinged arms and (usually) serrated jaws wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms

pincersbuffercorkscrewcrowbarinstrumentlathe

Example

More examples

"That pair of pliers came in handy."

Etymology

From ply (“to bend”) + -er + -s.

Related phrases

adjustable plierscombination plierscrimping pliersdiagonal pliersgroove-joint plierslineman's pliersmultigrip pliersneedlenose pliersneedlenosed plierspair of plierstongue-and-groove plierswater pump pliers

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.