tourniquet

noun

tour·​ni·​quet ˈtu̇r-ni-kət  ˈtər- 

: a device (such as a band of rubber) that checks bleeding or blood flow by compressing blood vessels

Examples of tourniquet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The insect chews through the layer, and eventually the damage is akin to putting a permanent tourniquet on the tree. —Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026

The two, a male and a female, were hospitalized with gunshot wounds after Portland police officers applied a tourniquet on scene. —Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026

Upon arrival, officers found the injured man and woman, and the officers applied a tourniquet and recruited help from emergency medical personnel, per the release from PPB. —Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026

Officers applied a tourniquet and called emergency medical personnel. —Chad De Guzman, Time, 9 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, turnstile, tourniquet, from tourner to turn, from Old French — more at turn

First Known Use

1695, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

tourniquet

noun

tour·​ni·​quet ˈtu̇r-ni-kət  ˈtər- 

: a device (as a band of rubber) used to stop or slow bleeding or blood flow by compressing blood vessels

Medical Definition

tourniquet

noun

tour·​ni·​quet ˈtu̇r-ni-kət  ˈtər- 

: a device (as a bandage twisted tight with a stick) to check bleeding or blood flow