pincer

noun

pin·​cer ˈpin(t)-sər 

especially for sense 1 US often ˈpin-chər

1

a

pincers plural : an instrument having two short handles and two grasping jaws working on a pivot and used for gripping things

b

: a claw (as of a lobster) resembling a pair of pincers : chela

2

: pincer movement

pincerlike

ˈpin(t)-sər-ˌlīk 

adjective

Examples of pincer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In a video demo, Alibaba showed a robot with pincers for hands that appeared to be able to count oranges, pick them up and place them in a basket. —Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 14 Feb. 2026

Catt hires Paul Garcia, a recovering alcoholic recently out of prison for petty fraud, to manage her apartment buildings, becomes romantically involved with him, and then gets embroiled in trying to extricate him from the pincers of the criminal-justice system and debt. —Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025

In addition to competing for the same invertebrate prey, the crayfish also capture newts in their pincers and devour the hapless amphibians alive. —Rachel Nuwer, Quanta Magazine, 14 Nov. 2025

According to archaeologists, these ancient farmers piled up stones and soil to form a body, pincers, and a curved tail with a stinger. —Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English pinceour, from Anglo-French *pinceour, pinchure, from Anglo-French *pincher, pincer to pinch, from Vulgar Latin *pinctiare, *punctiare, from Latin punctum puncture — more at point

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing pincer

• pincer movement

Rhymes for pincer

• mincer

Kids Definition

pincer

noun

pin·​cer ˈpin-chər 

ˈpin(t)-sər

1

plural : an instrument having two handles and two jaws that is used to grip things

2

: a claw (as of a lobster) resembling a pair of pincers

pincerlike

-ˌlīk 

adjective