pulley

noun

pul·​ley ˈpu̇-lē 

plural pulleys

1

: a sheave or small wheel with a grooved rim and with or without the block in which it runs used singly with a rope or chain to change the direction and point of application of a pulling force and in various combinations to increase the applied force especially for lifting weights

2

: a pulley or pulleys with ropes to form a tackle that constitutes one of the simple machines

3

: a wheel used to transmit power by means of a band, belt, cord, rope, or chain passing over its rim

Illustration of pulley

• pulley 2

Examples of pulley in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The group was first alerted to the site in February 2024 after team members found a pulley wheel with a mark of the British Royal Navy. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026

At stations, the cabins would detach, and pulleys would lower them for passengers to get on or off. —Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 7 Apr. 2026

There’s just so many moving parts involved and pulleys and stunt coordination. —Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 3 Apr. 2026

For drivers, trolley lanes are hard to miss, usually accompanied by street-level tracks on the roads and a sort of pulley mechanism that keeps the cars in line. —Kaitlyn McCormick, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English poley, pully, from Anglo-French pulie, probably ultimately from Greek polos axis, pole — more at pole

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pulley

• idler pulley

Rhymes for pulley

• bully
• fully
• woolly
• wooly

Kids Definition

pulley

noun

pul·​ley ˈpu̇l-ē 

plural pulleys

: a small wheel with a grooved rim used with a rope or chain to change the direction of a pulling force and in combination to increase the force applied for lifting

Medical Definition

pulley

noun

pul·​ley ˈpu̇l-ē 

: trochlea