jigsaw

1 of 3

noun

jig·​saw ˈjig-ˌsȯ 

1

: scroll saw sense 2

2

: a light portable electric saw with a vertically reciprocating blade that is used especially for cutting curves

3

: jigsaw puzzle

jigsaw

2 of 3

verb

jigsawed; jigsawing; jigsaws

transitive verb

1

: to cut or form by or as if by a jigsaw

2

: to arrange or place in an intricate or interlocking way

jigsaw

3 of 3

adjective

: suggesting a jigsaw puzzle or its separate pieces

Examples of jigsaw in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Games Here’s today’s mini crossword, plus our other free, daily crossword puzzle, sudoku, word search and jigsaw games. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Because of its jigsaw shape, your journey across the Pacific would more so resemble a game of time-travel hopscotch. — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Aug. 2026

Verb

Running dead last, Golden Tempo had to jigsaw through every single enemy on the track, a nightmarish prospect in a Kentucky Derby. — Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 3 May 2026

The transition from a team with three NBA talents to a squad jigsawed around Pritchard has had its ups and downs. — Tyson Alger, OregonLive.com, 4 Jan. 2018

Adjective

Over billions of years this process has created a moon covered in what looks like jigsaw pieces. — Shannon Stirone, Wired, 9 May 2020

My mother parceled out the sins of my father, like jigsaw pieces, spread out over too many years. — Robin Antalek, Longreads, 22 Apr. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1873, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1873, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1909, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing jigsaw

• jigsaw puzzle

Rhymes for jigsaw

• aa
• aha
• bashaw
• bradshaw
• byelaw
• bylaw
• chainsaw
• cheraw
• coleslaw
• crenshaw
• dada
• esau

Kids Definition

jigsaw

noun

jig·​saw

ˈjig-ˌsȯ

: an electric saw with a narrow blade for cutting curved and irregular lines