multi-tool

noun

mul·​ti-tool ˈməl-tē-ˌtül How to pronounce multi-tool (audio)
-ˌtī-
variants or less commonly multitool
: a compact, portable device that has blades and extensions for many tools (such as knives, screwdrivers, pliers, scissors, openers, and saw blades) which can be folded into the handle
… it's good to know you have tools in the car to get you out of a pickle that your multi-tool can't …Jennifer Sherry
To my mind, the coolest feature is the multi-tool, which sports a standard blade, serrated blade, screwdriver and bottle opener.Doug Aamoth
When a multitool is all that stands between you and, say, a ten-mile walk home, you develop a certain loyalty to the most reliable one.National Geographic Adventure

Examples of multi-tool 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.
Use the wand to reach window sills and curtains, and opt for the pet multi-tool to lift pet hair from stairs and upholstered furniture. Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025 Co-founded by James Hobson and Ian Hillier, the team has just raised more than $7.4 million on Kickstarter for their flagship product: a futuristic multi-tool designed entirely in-house. Ian Shepherd, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025 That same ambitious team has now focused its chops into creating a lightweight titanium multi-tool named the Smith Blade that looks like a compact pocket knife, but actually packs up to 21 features in its slim build. New Atlas, 7 Aug. 2025 WorkPro 5-in-1 Hand Weeder Puller Constructed with highly durable, polished stainless steel, the multi-tool is not only designed to resist rust and corrosion, but it’s also built to withstand bending and scratching that comes from heavy use. Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 6 Aug. 2025 The DeWalt five-tool combo kit comes with a drill, impact driver, circular saw, reciprocating saw and multi-tool. Christopher Murray May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 8 July 2025 The multi-tool was then used to cut precise holes in the back wall of the box. Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2025 Many of them work as a multi-tool with the ability to vacuum and blow. Cody Godwin, USA Today, 22 June 2025 The storied brand continues to design and manufacture knives and multi-tools in Portland, Oregon, and every Leatherman comes with a 25-year limited warranty. Lisa Jhung, Outside Online, 14 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1985, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of multi-tool was in 1985

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Cite this Entry

“Multi-tool.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/multi-tool. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

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