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 film first premiered in Nashville last month, the hometown of a friend Sophie Pilkinton, who was in the water with her during the attack and applied a tourniquet to help save her life. —Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 14 Oct. 2025

This is the worst center situation in the West, with veteran tourniquet Kevon Looney imported to try to limit the bleeding. —John Hollinger, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025

Immediately springing into action, Blue successfully applies a tourniquet to a bleeding bride-to-be, proving that being a first responder might just be in his blood. —Andy Swift, TVLine, 9 Oct. 2025

While an officer applied a tourniquet on Ally Marshall, Austin Marshall saw Hall driving towards them and around the police vehicle blocking the road. —Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2025

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