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

Animal Farm, published in 1945 as the Soviet Union was clamping its pincers on Eastern Europe, and 1948 – published at a time when Stalin had drawn the Iron Curtain between East and West – illustrate the moral depravity of the powerful who exert dominance over the powerless. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 16 May 2025

Mind you, even if the pincers are completely ineffective against mines, they're guaranteed to give any enemy looking on the heebie jeebies. —David Szondy, New Atlas, 10 Apr. 2025

If a scorpion has big pincers, that means the venom is low. —Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 9 Apr. 2025

The robot itself appears pretty unremarkable, just a pair of mechanical arms with pincers. —Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 17 Mar. 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