swab

1 of 2

noun

ˈswäb 

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

2

a

: a useless or contemptible person

b

: sailor, gob

swab

2 of 2

verb

swabbed; swabbing

transitive verb

1

: to clean with or as if with a swab

2

: to apply medication to with a swab

swabbed the wound with iodine

Synonyms of swab

Noun

• sailor
• mariner
• navigator

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

Noun

Now, the Firefighter Cancer Initiative at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, is showing promising results for a swab test that checks for PFAs, otherwise known as forever chemicals. —Lauren Pastrana, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026

Since 2024, the Food and Drug Administration has approved two self-swab tests that can be used in doctors’ offices, as well as an at-home test called the Teal Wand that can be ordered after a telehealth visit. —Aria Bendix, NBC news, 5 Jan. 2026

Verb

Pap smears, on the other hand, use a metal or plastic device called a speculum to widen the vaginal canal so a clinician can swab the cervix for cells. —Aria Bendix, NBC news, 5 Jan. 2026

Tate’s hands were swabbed to test for gunshot residue, but those swabs were never tested, the lawsuit said. —Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 21 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably from obsolete Dutch swabbe; akin to Low German swabber mop

Verb

back-formation from swabber

First Known Use

Noun

1653, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1719, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing swab

• cotton swab

Rhymes for swab

• blob
• bob
• cob
• daub
• fob
• glob
• gob
• hob
• job
• knob
• lob
• mob

Kids Definition

swab

1 of 2 noun

ˈswäb 

1

a

: mop entry 1 sense 1

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 noun

ˈswäb 

1

: 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