cutlery

noun

cut·​lery ˈkət-lə-rē How to pronounce cutlery (audio)
1
: the business of a cutler
2
: edged or cutting tools
specifically : implements for cutting and eating food

Examples of cutlery in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Today, the clatter of cutlery and the buzz of conversation compete with the steady stream of delivery drivers and the ping of online orders. Craig Dunaway, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 The challenge is that the economy is far from sufficient for Nigeria’s booming population, relying heavily on imports to meet the daily needs of its citizens from cars to cutlery. Chinedu Asadu, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Feb. 2024 Serving ware Many of us need a fresh set of cutlery because most of our spoons have danced around in the garbage disposal. Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2024 The rules are as carefully observed as those governing all that cutlery around the plate. Ligaya Mishan Kyoko Hamada, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2024 Others said the fact that officers killed someone armed with plastic cutlery underscored the need for developing alternatives to police for certain emergencies. Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2024 Knives and cutlery Choose a few top-quality knives. Kathy Moore and Roxanne Wyss, Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2024 Mason’s Retreat is the name of this farm and ancestral seat, tumbledown in haute WASP fashion, a place of brackish marsh air, oyster shells, and drawers jammed with mismatched cutlery. Chloe Schama, Vogue, 12 Jan. 2024 There’s squiggly silver cutlery from metal artist Yeodong Yun sourced directly from Seoul and aluminum incense burners by studio Fe26 that resemble avant-garde pepper grinders. Joshua Glass, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cutlery.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cutlery was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near cutlery

Cite this Entry

“Cutlery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cutlery. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cutlery

noun
cut·​lery ˈkət-lə-rē How to pronounce cutlery (audio)
1
: the business of a cutler
2
: cutting tools (as knives and scissors)
3
: utensils for cutting, serving, and eating food
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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