pencil

1 of 3

noun (1)

pen·​cil ˈpen(t)-səl 

1

: an artist's brush

2

: an artist's individual skill or style

3

a

: an implement for writing, drawing, or marking consisting of or containing a slender cylinder or strip of a solid marking substance

b

: a small medicated or cosmetic roll or stick for local applications

4

: a set of geometric objects each pair of which has a common property

the lines in a plane through a point comprise a pencil of lines

5

: something (such as a beam of radiation) long and thin like a pencil

pencil

2 of 3

verb

penciled or pencilled; penciling or pencilling ˈpen(t)-s(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to paint, draw, write, or mark with a pencil

2

: to plan or designate tentatively

—used with in

penciled him in as the nominee

penciling

3 of 3

noun (2)

pen·​cil·​ing ˈpen(t)-s(ə-)liŋ 

variants or pencilling

: the work of the pencil or brush

also : a product of this

Examples of pencil in a Sentence

Noun (1)

Use a pencil instead of a pen so you can erase your mistakes.

Verb

He penciled some notes on a piece of paper.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The creamy formula of this eyeliner pencil glides on easily and lasts all day. —Madeline Merinuk, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026

But a great brow pencil can make a big difference. —Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 23 June 2026

Verb

An undersung piece in the offseason Caleb Durbin/Kyle Harrison deal with Boston, the lefty Drohan is now penciled into a Brewers rotation dealing with injuries to Brandon Woodruff, Logan Henderson and Quinn Priester. —John Laghezza, New York Times, 12 June 2026

Reservations are handled by phone, penciled into grids that Boyd prints each month. —Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026

Noun

But Democrats should hold off on gleefully penciling in 2028 as the year AI hands them the keys to the White House in perpetuity. —Matt K. Lewis, Twin Cities, 19 Aug. 2025

But the divide among policymakers is growing, with nine looking for two rate decreases, two preferring three cuts and eight penciling in one or none. —Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English pensel, from Anglo-French pincel, from Vulgar Latin *penicellus, alteration of Latin penicillus, diminutive of peniculus brush, from diminutive of penis tail, penis

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1500, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1532, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pencil

• blue-pencil
• eyebrow pencil
• grease pencil
• in pencil
• lead pencil
• mechanical pencil
• pencil case
• pencil in
• pencil pusher
• pencil sharpener
• propelling pencil
• red-pencil
• styptic pencil

Rhymes for pencil

• stencil
• tensile
• commensal
• prehensile
• utensil
• intercensal

Kids Definition

pencil

1 of 2 noun

pen·​cil ˈpen(t)-səl 

1

: an instrument for writing, drawing, or marking consisting of or containing a slender cylinder or strip of a solid marking substance

2

: something like a pencil in form or use

an eyebrow pencil

pencil

2 of 2 verb

penciled or pencilled; penciling or pencilling

ˈpen(t)-s(ə-)liŋ

: to mark, draw, or write with or as if with a pencil

Etymology

Noun

Middle English pensel "an artist's brush, pencil," from early French pincel (same meaning), derived from Latin penicillus, literally, "little tail" — related to penicillin see Word History at ³pen

Medical Definition

pencil

noun

pen·​cil ˈpen(t)-səl 

1

: a small medicated or cosmetic roll or stick for local applications

a menthol pencil

2

: an aggregate of rays of radiation (as light) especially when diverging from or converging to a point