toolmaking

noun

tool·​mak·​ing ˈtül-ˌmā-kiŋ How to pronounce toolmaking (audio)
: the action, process, or art of making tools
also : the trade of a toolmaker

Examples of toolmaking 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 chimp had demonstrated both tool use and toolmaking, behaviors widely believed exclusive to humans. — Michelle Nijhuis, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025 Stevens said the island-hopping Polynesians who landed in New Zealand depended on the moa as one of their very few sources of protein in that era, as well as a source of bones for toolmaking and other daily needs. — David Bloom, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025 Samson’s findings reveal how human sleep patterns became shorter, deeper and more flexible than those of our more ape-like ancestors, freeing time to spend on toolmaking, social interactions and migration around the world. — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 1 June 2026 The earliest remains found during the excavation were 60 flint fragments produced during toolmaking, likely dating back to 4300 BC. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 1 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for toolmaking

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of toolmaking was in 1848

Rhymes for toolmaking

See All Rhymes for toolmaking

Browse Nearby Words

toolmakers' button
toolmaking
toolman
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Toolmaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toolmaking. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All