pitchfork

noun

pitch·​fork ˈpich-ˌfȯrk How to pronounce pitchfork (audio)
: a long-handled fork that has two or three long somewhat curved prongs and is used especially in pitching hay
pitchfork transitive verb

Examples of pitchfork 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.
While Dalio may not have used the 19th-Century word pitchforks, which was a referral to rebellion by peasants wielding actual pitchforks, his warning to fellow capitalists was seen as the same kind of warning. Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025 If an overconfident or uninterested U.S. team flops this summer, the pitchforks won’t necessarily be out for Pochettino, but his reputation, and that of the players, will take another hit. Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025 Most gardeners use a pitchfork or composting fork to turn compost, but aerating compost is even easier with a compost tumbler. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Apr. 2025 The shelters were dismantled by city workers and scraped off the flood channel floor with pitchforks, shovels and bulldozers while those who lived in them watched. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pitchfork

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pitchfork was in the 13th century

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Cite this Entry

“Pitchfork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pitchfork. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

pitchfork

noun
pitch·​fork ˈpich-ˌfȯ(ə)rk How to pronounce pitchfork (audio)
: a tool with a long handle and usually two to five metal prongs that is used especially in pitching hay
pitchfork verb

More from Merriam-Webster on pitchfork

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