tourniquet

noun

tour·​ni·​quet ˈtu̇r-ni-kət  ˈtər- 

: a device (such as a band of rubber) that checks bleeding or blood flow by compressing blood vessels

Examples of tourniquet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Richards was leaning against the Dairy Queen building and officers applied a tourniquet to his leg. —Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 3 Dec. 2025

Bystanders reportedly used a makeshift tourniquet to wrap the man’s leg before emergency responders arrived, authorities told the BBC. —Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025

There was also a tingling feeling as a heroic stranger, a quick-thinking nurse, used the drawstring from some swimming trunks to create an improvised tourniquet. —Boyce Upholt, Southern Living, 19 Nov. 2025

Deputies found a man with a stab wound to his arm and applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. —Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 12 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, turnstile, tourniquet, from tourner to turn, from Old French — more at turn

First Known Use

1695, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

tourniquet

noun

tour·​ni·​quet ˈtu̇r-ni-kət  ˈtər- 

: a device (as a band of rubber) used to stop or slow bleeding or blood flow by compressing blood vessels

Medical Definition

tourniquet

noun

tour·​ni·​quet ˈtu̇r-ni-kət  ˈtər- 

: a device (as a bandage twisted tight with a stick) to check bleeding or blood flow