utility knife

noun

: a knife designed for general use

a chef's utility knife

specifically : a cutting tool having a sharp replaceable blade that can be retracted into a usually metal handle

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

This set includes a bread knife, paring knife, utility knife, vegetable peeler, and ceramic sharpening rod alongside the incredible chef's knife. —Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 20 Apr. 2023

If there is caulk, cut through it with a utility knife, taking care not to scratch the tile. —Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 14 Apr. 2023

Repair a worn drive belt cover by applying some aluminum foil tape to the inside of the cover then carve off the excess with a sharp utility knife. —Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 17 Mar. 2023

Easy DIYs include recaulking a bathtub or shower with a utility knife and caulk gun; installing a shower head with a wrench and plumber’s tape; creating an accent wall with pre-pasted wallpaper; and edging garden beds with a shovel, string and mulch. —Washington Post, 14 Nov. 2021

Put the tip of the utility knife blade against the hook and pinch the blade there with your thumb. —Popular Mechanics, 26 Jan. 2023

The utility knife stands out for having numerous uses. —Good Housekeeping, 6 Feb. 2023

This video is currently not available Submerged in an icy lake, the Jeep was already filling with water by the time Joe Salmon shattered a window with the handle of a utility knife and peered inside. —Marisa Iati, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined above