machete

noun

ma·​chete mə-ˈshe-tē How to pronounce machete (audio)
-ˈche-;
-ˈshet
Synonyms of machetenext
: a large heavy knife used for cutting sugarcane and underbrush and as a weapon

Examples of machete 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.
Danny Trejo has played a Mexican revolutionary, a Mexican cop, a Mexican cartel assassin and, of course, a Mexican ex-con who kills bad guys with a machete. — Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026 Read on about Jonathan Tison’s experience taking over Jason Voorhees’ machete in Brad Caleb Kane’s Crystal Lake, all episodes of which are now available to stream on Peacock. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2026 Lin entered with a red pen and a machete, the lore goes, in hopes of emphasizing quality over quantity. — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 20 Oct. 2026 Surveillance video shows 24-year-old Joshua Flores walking along Western Avenue with a machete shortly before his arrest. — Logan Hall, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for machete

Word History

Etymology

Spanish

First Known Use

1575, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of machete was in 1575

Rhymes for machete

See All Rhymes for machete

Browse Nearby Words

macher
machete
machi
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Machete.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/machete. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

machete

noun
ma·​chete mə-ˈshet-ē How to pronounce machete (audio)
-ˈchet-ē;
mə-ˈshet
: a large heavy knife used especially for cutting sugarcane and underbrush and as a weapon

More from Merriam-Webster on machete

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for machete

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