✨📕 The NEWThe NEW Collegiate Dictionary, 12th Edition Over 5,000 words added — Buy Now! Collegiate DictionaryBuy Now!

hatchet

noun

hatch·​et ˈha-chət How to pronounce hatchet (audio)
1
: a short-handled ax often with a hammerhead to be used with one hand
2

Examples of hatchet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Authorities said the person was carrying five handguns, nine knives and two hatchets with them. Christa Swanson, CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025 Gould said police found a hydrogen peroxide bottle, tarps, shears, snips, a hatchet, and a hacksaw — the last of which was also visibly stained brownish red in a photo shown by the prosecution. Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 4 Dec. 2025 In another, the shot individual was said to have wielded a hatchet. Darcie Moran, Freep.com, 3 Dec. 2025 Will the two finally bury the hatchet? Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 25 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hatchet

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hachet, from Anglo-French hachette, diminutive of hache battle-ax — more at hash

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hatchet was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hatchet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hatchet. Accessed 7 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

hatchet

noun
hatch·​et ˈhach-ət How to pronounce hatchet (audio)
: a small ax with a short handle
Etymology

Middle English hachet "small ax, hatchet," from early French hachette, literally, "small battle-ax," from hache "battle-ax"; of Germanic origin — related to hash entry 1, hatch entry 4

Medical Definition

hatchet

noun
hatch·​et ˈhach-ət How to pronounce hatchet (audio)
: a dental excavator

More from Merriam-Webster on hatchet

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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