1
: a slender staff carried in a procession : verge
2
: a slender rod used by conjurers and magicians
3
: a slat six feet by two inches used as a target in archery
also : a narrow strip of paper pasted vertically on a target face
4
: any of various pipelike devices
especially : the rigid tube between the hose and the nozzle of a vacuum cleaner
5
: a handheld device used to enter information (as from a bar code) into a computer

Examples of wand in a Sentence

The cashier used a wand to scan the bar code.
Recent Examples on the Web The wands are small, but kids can play together and create plenty of bubbles for a fun time. Laura Lu, Ms, Parents, 6 Mar. 2024 One is a vacuum test using a wand spraying helium to see if it it is being sucked into the system. Ronald D. White, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2024 For temporary privacy issues, such as when you're dressed in your favorite fluffy robe while reading the Sunday paper, consider quick-draw curtains, blinds, or shutters, which close at the tilt of a wand. Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2024 The announcement coincides with the launch of a new and incredibly innovative tool, The Power Bottom, which allows users to interchange 3 different heat tools (a waver tool, a curling wand, and a curling iron) with 1 power base. Sarah Boyd, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 The same day that Deadline shared the news, the Disney Channel’s official Instagram account posted a close-up photo of a Wizards pilot script as a toy wand lay over it. Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 27 Jan. 2024 Desert Diamond Arena reserves the right to subject guests to a secondary hand wand screening and/or visual inspection. The Arizona Republic, 24 Jan. 2024 Some of his favorite things include wand toys, exploring, and playing hide and seek. Stephanie Baillargeon-McCurry and, Kansas City Star, 21 Feb. 2024 And thanks to the ceramic-titanium finish, the wand leaves hair looking shiny and not dull or dry. Lauren Taylor, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, slender stick, from Old Norse vǫndr; probably akin to Old English windan to wind, twist — more at wind entry 3

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wand was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near wand

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

wand

noun
1
: a slender rod used in performing magic
2
: a light rod or tube

More from Merriam-Webster on wand

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!