excavator

noun

ex·​ca·​va·​tor ˈek-skə-ˌvā-tər 

: one that excavates

especially : a power-operated shovel

Examples of excavator in a Sentence

The excavators found ancient tools at the site.

Recent Examples on the Web

This 3-in-1 bundle deal includes an emergency air ambulance airplane, a construction excavator, and a fire rescue plane (with several mini-figures of course). —John Mihaly, PC Magazine, 5 Sep. 2025

In Rome, excavators found an ancient apartment building built decades before the birth of Christ. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025

Interlune also found an eager and well-suited partner to make its lunar excavator in Jason Andringa, CEO of Vermeer, a billion-dollar in sales manufacturer of construction, mining and agriculture equipment. —Jeremy Bogaisky, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025

The Thames’ 23-foot tidal range creates a narrow window for the cleanup work meaning excavators can only operate during a four-hour window around low tide when the debris becomes accessible. —Dakota Bennett, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

excavate + -or entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1815, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for excavator

• activator
• actuator
• agitator
• alligator
• allocator
• alternator
• animator
• annotator
• applicator
• arbitrator
• aspirator
• aviator

Medical Definition

excavator

noun

ex·​ca·​va·​tor ˈek-skə-ˌvāt-ər 

: an instrument used to open bodily cavities (as in the teeth) or remove material from them