wand

noun

ˈwänd 

1

: a slender staff carried in a procession : verge

2

: a slender rod used by conjurers and magicians

3

: a slat six feet by two inches used as a target in archery

also : a narrow strip of paper pasted vertically on a target face

4

: any of various pipelike devices

especially : the rigid tube between the hose and the nozzle of a vacuum cleaner

5

: a handheld device used to enter information (as from a bar code) into a computer

Examples of wand in a Sentence

The cashier used a wand to scan the bar code.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Rev Air works for all hair types, provided your hair is long enough to suction into the wand. —Essence Wiley, InStyle, 19 Feb. 2026

The blue-violet flowers open sequentially along upright wands that rise three to four feet high. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2026

The policy would establish clear guidelines for searches and the use of security screening tools, including metal detectors and handheld wands. —Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 16 Feb. 2026

Use tools like microfiber cloths, flexible wands, or old toothbrushes to reach tight spaces and clean thoroughly. —Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 16 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, slender stick, from Old Norse vǫndr; probably akin to Old English windan to wind, twist — more at wind entry 3

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing wand

• magic wand

Rhymes for wand

• awned
• blond
• blonde
• bond
• conned
• dawned
• donned
• fond
• frond
• gond
• maund
• pawned

Kids Definition

wand

noun

ˈwänd 

1

: a slender rod used in performing magic

2

: a light rod or tube