chainsaw

noun

chain·​saw ˈchān-ˌsȯ How to pronounce chainsaw (audio)
variants or less commonly chain saw
plural chainsaws also chain saws
: a portable power tool used for cutting that has sharp teeth linked together to form a continuous chain
chainsaw transitive verb
chainsawed; chainsawed or less commonly chainsawn ˈchān-ˌsȯn How to pronounce chainsaw (audio) ; chainsawing; chainsaws

Word History

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chainsaw was in 1946

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chainsaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chainsaw. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

chain saw

noun
: a portable power saw that has teeth linked together to form a continuous chain

More from Merriam-Webster on chainsaw

Last Updated: - Definition revised
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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