pocketknife

noun

pock·​et·​knife ˈpä-kət-ˌnīf 

: a knife that has one or more blades that fold into the handle and that can be carried in the pocket

Examples of pocketknife in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Police said Gregory then pulled out a pocketknife, threatened to stab the juvenile and began stealing a PlayStation console and controllers. —Garrett Behanna, CBS News, 18 Jan. 2026

Box cutters, pocketknives, Swiss Army knives, and utility knives can cause a hold-up at security checkpoints, and you won’t be allowed to take them on the plane in your carry-on. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2026

Everyday carry tools have evolved far beyond simple pocketknives. —Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 9 Jan. 2026

Investigators said Moore approached Loncharich in a store aisle and stabbed her in the back with a pocketknife. —Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 1 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1676, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pocketknife

• afterlife
• alewife
• birdlife
• folklife
• housewife
• jackknife
• loosestrife
• midlife
• midwife
• nightlife
• penknife
• wildlife

Kids Definition

pocketknife

noun

pock·​et·​knife ˈpäk-ət-ˌnīf 

: a knife that has one or more blades that fold into the handle and that can be carried in the pocket