appliance
noun
ap·pli·ance
ə-ˈplī-ən(t)s 
plural appliances
1
: an act of applying
2
a
: a piece of equipment for adapting a tool or machine to a special purpose : attachment
b
: an instrument or device designed for a particular use or function
an orthodontic appliance
specifically
: a household or office device (such as a stove, fan, or refrigerator) operated by gas or electric current
c
British
: fire engine
d
: an artificial part or mask that is worn as part of an actor's makeup or costume
… more grown-ups are shelling out for scary facial appliances—wounds, snouts and horns—to create the creepy characters they've dreamed up on their own.—
Dana Coffield
Dana Coffield
e
computing
: information appliance
A growing number of companies are coming up with ways [in 2000] to turn ordinary phones into Internet appliances.—Sharon Cleary
Sharon Cleary3
obsolete
: compliance
Synonyms
Examples of appliance in a Sentence
All household appliances are now on sale.
since the invention of the cork, all manner of appliances have been invented for the extraction of these sometimes troublesome stoppers
Recent Examples on the Web
Spencer Platt | Getty Images Former President Donald Trump’s universal tariff proposals could cause prices to skyrocket on clothing, toys, furniture, household appliances, footwear and travel goods, according to a new report from the National Retail Federation.
—Annie Nova,rebecca Picciotto, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2024
An appliance like that, while a great gift idea, can get pretty expensive (even our best budget pick, the Bambino Plus, is $500).
—Megan Wahn, Bon Appétit, 4 Nov. 2024
Toys could jump up by $8.8 billion to $14.2 billion, and other categories, such as furniture, household appliances, footwear, and travel goods would all also face higher prices.
—Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 4 Nov. 2024
Nelson Mullins’ analysis also concluded the BPO’s styrofoam ban will also present challenges to local manufacturers and retailers who sell appliances and home goods packaged in styrofoam for protection.
—Patrick Gleason, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for appliance 
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Annie Nova,rebecca Picciotto, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2024
An appliance like that, while a great gift idea, can get pretty expensive (even our best budget pick, the Bambino Plus, is $500).
—Megan Wahn, Bon Appétit, 4 Nov. 2024
Toys could jump up by $8.8 billion to $14.2 billion, and other categories, such as furniture, household appliances, footwear, and travel goods would all also face higher prices.
—Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 4 Nov. 2024
Nelson Mullins’ analysis also concluded the BPO’s styrofoam ban will also present challenges to local manufacturers and retailers who sell appliances and home goods packaged in styrofoam for protection.
—Patrick Gleason, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for appliance
Dictionary Entries Near appliance
Cite this Entry
“Appliance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appliance. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
appliance
noun
ap·pli·ance
ə-ˈplī-ən(t)s
1
: a piece of equipment for making a tool or machine suitable for a special purpose : attachment
2
: a device designed for a particular use
a fire-fighting appliance
an appliance serving as an artificial arm
3
: a household device (as a stove, fan, or refrigerator) or piece of office equipment that runs on gas or electricity
Medical Definition
appliance
noun
ap·pli·ance
ə-ˈplī-ən(t)s
: an instrument or device designed for a particular use
prosthetic appliances
an orthodontic appliance used to move misaligned teeth into proper occlusion
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