ballpoint pen

noun

ball·​point pen ˈbȯl-ˌpȯint- How to pronounce ballpoint pen (audio)
variants or less commonly ballpoint
: a pen having as the writing point a small rotating metal ball that inks itself by contact with an inner magazine

Examples of ballpoint pen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The vacuum’s body is constructed from a refillable ballpoint pen and a small rotating fan, with suction generated by a four-volt vibration motor. Andrea Lewis, Architectural Digest, 24 Oct. 2024 The most frequent material Medalla employed over the course of half a century seems to have been ballpoint pen. Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2024 Drawn largely with ballpoint pen in an exquisite crosshatch style, the book is full of faux pulp-monster-magazine covers and re-creations of works from the Art Institute. Mark Yarm, Vulture, 20 May 2024 In the attendant’s hand were a ballpoint pen and an unblemished baseball, protectively placed in a plastic bag — the telltale ingredients of an autograph request. Zach Buchanan, New York Times, 1 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for ballpoint pen 

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ballpoint pen was in 1953

Dictionary Entries Near ballpoint pen

Cite this Entry

“Ballpoint pen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ballpoint%20pen. Accessed 11 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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