machete

noun

ma·​chete mə-ˈshe-tē How to pronounce machete (audio)
-ˈche-;
-ˈshet
: a large heavy knife used for cutting sugarcane and underbrush and as a weapon

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Authorities suspected Constanzo killed Kilroy with a machete after torturing him. María Luisa Paúl, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2023 Later, in 2016, she was sentenced to nine years in prison after being accused of robbing convenience stores three times while armed with a machete, according to court records and state officials. Dan Morse, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2023 In the late night hours of Dec. 31, a suspect, later identified as Bickford, targeted three officers with a machete, the NYPD reported. CBS News, 6 Jan. 2023 Shekari was accused of blocking a street in Tehran and attacking with a machete a member of the security forces, who required stitches for his wounds, the agency said. Jon Gambrell, ajc, 8 Dec. 2022 Shekari was accused of blocking a street in Tehran and attacking with a machete a member of the security forces, who required stitches for his wounds, the agency said. Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 8 Dec. 2022 Clendaniel and Russell met while incarcerated at separate prisons, according to the court documents - Russell in federal custody for possessing bombmaking materials and Clendaniel in a Maryland facility for robbing convenience stores with a machete. Rachel Weiner, Jasmine Hilton, Anchorage Daily News, 6 Feb. 2023 An apparent road rage attack last week in which a man smashed the car window of a food delivery driver with a machete is under investigation, San Jose police said Monday. Jessica Flores, San Francisco Chronicle, 6 Feb. 2023 Trevor Bickford, 19, was taken into custody after three officers were targeted by a suspect wielding a machete, officials say. Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2023 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'machete.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Spanish

First Known Use

circa 1575, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of machete was circa 1575

Dictionary Entries Near machete

Cite this Entry

“Machete.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/machete. Accessed 29 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

machete

noun
ma·​chete mə-ˈshet-ē How to pronounce machete (audio)
-ˈchet-ē;
mə-ˈshet
: a large heavy knife used especially for cutting sugarcane and underbrush and as a weapon
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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