chainsaw

noun

chain·​saw ˈchān-ˌsȯ How to pronounce chainsaw (audio)
variants or less commonly chain saw
plural chainsaws also chain saws
: a portable power tool used for cutting that has sharp teeth linked together to form a continuous chain
chainsaw transitive verb
chainsawed; chainsawed also chainsawn ˈchān-ˌsȯn How to pronounce chainsaw (audio) ; chainsawing; chainsaws

Examples of chainsaw in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The same goes for a hammer, chainsaw and drill. — Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026 Without chainsaws, egrets, or the large Great Dane in the harlequin phase. — Padgett Powell, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026 Rescuers and resources such as trucks, water pumps and chainsaws were deployed from other counties. — ABC News, 1 July 2026 Use sharp garden clippers, loppers, or a small, handheld chainsaw to carefully prune away sections of the vine. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for chainsaw

Word History

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chainsaw was in 1946

Rhymes for chainsaw

See All Rhymes for chainsaw

Browse Nearby Words

chain rule
chainsaw
chain scale
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chainsaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chainsaw. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

chain saw

noun
: a portable power saw that has teeth linked together to form a continuous chain

More from Merriam-Webster on chainsaw

Nglish: Translation of chainsaw for Spanish Speakers

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