jackhammer

noun

jack·​ham·​mer ˈjak-ˌha-mər How to pronounce jackhammer (audio)
1
: a pneumatically operated percussive rock-drilling tool usually held in the hands
2
: a device in which a tool (such as a chisel for breaking up pavements) is driven percussively by compressed air
jackhammer verb

Examples of jackhammer 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.
Every day her family digs, breaking through concrete with a jackhammer and their own hands, trying to reach them. — Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026 But on the second day, Israeli forces arrived with bulldozers, jackhammers and tanks. — ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026 Construction worker Julio Meléndez tried to bring a jackhammer into a disaster zone to help break up debris and look for survivors. — Fatima Al-Kassab, NPR, 1 July 2026 Trump, who built a career as a real estate developer, has frequently touted the project, gushing over the sounds of jackhammers and excavation trucks. — Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for jackhammer

Word History

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of jackhammer was in 1912

Rhymes for jackhammer

See All Rhymes for jackhammer

Browse Nearby Words

jackfruit
jackhammer
Jack Horner pie
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Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

jackhammer

noun
jack·​ham·​mer ˈjak-ˌham-ər How to pronounce jackhammer (audio)
: a tool driven by compressed air that is used for drilling or breaking up hard substances (as rock or pavement) by a repeated pounding action

More from Merriam-Webster on jackhammer

Nglish: Translation of jackhammer for Spanish Speakers

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