What does "stylus" mean?
An ancient writing implement consisting of a small rod with a pointed end for scratching letters on clay, wax-covered tablets or other surfaces, and a blunt end for obliterating them.
Stylus
/ˈstaɪ.ləs/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An ancient writing implement consisting of a small rod with a pointed end for scratching letters on clay, wax-covered tablets or other surfaces, and a blunt end for obliterating them.
- Grammar: stylus is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: active stylus, audio sound system, audiophile, binaural system.
- Useful contrasts: eraser, finger, quill.
- Usage evidence: It is possible to write Braille by hand using a slate and a stylus.
How to use "stylus"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "stylus" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "stylus" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "stylus" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "stylus" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "stylus" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "active stylus" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "stylus", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An ancient writing implement consisting of a small rod with a pointed end for scratching letters on clay, wax-covered tablets or other surfaces, and a blunt end for obliterating them.
"[T]he pleasure of writing on wax with a stylus is exemplified by the fine, flowing hand of a Roman scribe who made out the birth certificate of Herennia Gemella, born March 128 AD."
- 2 a pointed tool for writing or drawing or engraving wordnet
- 3 An ancient writing implement consisting of a small rod with a pointed end for scratching letters on clay, wax-covered tablets or other surfaces, and a blunt end for obliterating them.; A small implement with a pointed end used for engraving and tracing.
- 4 a sharp pointed device attached to the cartridge of a record player wordnet
- 5 An ancient writing implement consisting of a small rod with a pointed end for scratching letters on clay, wax-covered tablets or other surfaces, and a blunt end for obliterating them.; A small device resembling a pen used to input handwritten text or drawings directly into an electronic device with a touch-sensitive screen.
"Use the stylus to scroll up and down the list or flip through the pages left and right."
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 A hard-pointed pen-shaped instrument for marking on stencils used in a mimeograph machine.
- 7 A hard point, typically of diamond or sapphire, following a groove in a phonograph and transmitting the recorded sound for reproduction.
- 8 A hard point, typically of diamond or sapphire, following a groove in a phonograph and transmitting the recorded sound for reproduction.; A pointed device formerly used to produce a groove in a record when recording sound.
- 9 A tool for making small dots on a piece of heavy paper, used to produce Braille writing for the blind by hand.
- 10 Synonym of style.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"It is possible to write Braille by hand using a slate and a stylus."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "stylus"?
Common synonyms include: active stylus, audio sound system, audiophile, binaural system, bitch box, bullhorn.
How do you use "stylus" in a sentence?
It is possible to write Braille by hand using a slate and a stylus.
How do you pronounce "stylus"?
Pronounced /ˈstaɪ.ləs/.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin stylus (“a stake or pale”). Probably not directly related to Ancient Greek στῦλος (stûlos, “a pillar”). Doublet of style.