1
a
: mop
especially
: a yarn mop
b(1)
: a wad of absorbent material usually wound around one end of a small stick and used especially for applying medication or for removing material from an area
(2)
: a specimen taken with a swab
c
: a sponge or cloth patch attached to a long handle and used to clean the bore of a firearm
swabbed; swabbing
1
: to clean with or as if with a swab
2
: to apply medication to with a swab
swabbed the wound with iodine
Examples of swab in a Sentence
Noun
Use a cotton swab dipped in alcohol to disinfect the area.
The doctor took a throat swab and sent it to the lab.
Verb
The nurse swabbed the cut with a disinfectant.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 1 Aug. 2025
There are no standardized tests for men, but options include penile swabs and anal swabs.
—Cat Wang, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Max Levy, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2025
Through Russell, Brennan pointed out holes in the arm of O’Keefe’s sweatshirt were swabbed for DNA — but that no dog DNA was found, only pig DNA.
—Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for swab
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
On June 7, 2022, a skin cell swab revealed that DNA found in the trunk of Smith's car belonged to the man accused of killing him.
—Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 1 Aug. 2025
There are no standardized tests for men, but options include penile swabs and anal swabs.
—Cat Wang, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Verb
Costilla County Sheriff Danny Sanchez said in the post that Denholm’s wounds were swabbed, and the sheriff’s office is partnering with CBI to test DNA found on the swabs.
—Max Levy, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2025
Through Russell, Brennan pointed out holes in the arm of O’Keefe’s sweatshirt were swabbed for DNA — but that no dog DNA was found, only pig DNA.
—Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for swab
Cite this Entry
“Swab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swab. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
swab
1 of 2 noun1
b
: a wad of absorbent material usually wound around one end of a small stick and used especially for applying medicine or for removing material (as from a wound)
also
: a sample taken with a swab
2
: sailor
swab
2 of 2 verb
swabbed; swabbing
: to use a swab on
Medical Definition
swab
1 of 2 noun1
: a wad of absorbent material usually wound around one end of a small stick and used for applying medication or for removing material from an area
2
: a specimen taken with a swab
a throat swab
swab
2 of 2 transitive verb
swabbed; swabbing
: to apply medication to with a swab
swabbed the wound with iodine
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