appliance

appliance — noun

1. a machine or tool kept in the home, usually electric, for jobs such as cooking,

1.nounC1
Definition

a machine or tool kept in the home, usually electric, for jobs such as cooking, cleaning, or washing clothes

Example

The repairman checked each kitchen appliance before leaving the apartment.

collocation: kitchen appliance

Their new appliance uses less power than the old dryer.

appliance + use power

Common collocations
  • household appliance
  • kitchen appliance
  • electrical appliance
  • small appliance
  • large appliance
Synonyms
  • device

    broader and can refer to many types of equipment, not only home machines

  • machine

    more general and often suggests a larger mechanical object

  • gadget

    usually means a smaller, clever, or more modern item

  • equipment

    a collective word for things used for a purpose, not usually one single household item

Grammar Patterns

a household appliance

a kitchen appliance

electrical appliances

Usage Note

Usually countable. In everyday use, it most often refers to home equipment such as fridges, ovens, washing machines, kettles, or toasters, rather than to tools used at work.

Common Mistakes

We bought appliance for the new kitchen.
We bought an appliance for the new kitchen.
appliance is a countable noun, so use an article for one item.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For this sense, appliance usually means a machine used in the home for practical daily tasks such as cooking, washing, or keeping food cold. Device is much broader and can mean anything from a smoke alarm to a medical tool. Machine is also broader and often sounds more mechanical or industrial. Gadget usually suggests something smaller, newer, or slightly clever, such as a smart kitchen tool. If you are talking about a fridge, washing machine, or microwave in a house, appliance is the most exact word. You can say We replaced three kitchen appliances, but not We replaced three kitchen gadgets if the items are major home machines.

appliance ↗device ↗machine ↗gadget ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • appliance repair
  • appliance store
  • appliance manual

Phrases

  • household appliance
  • small appliance
  • install an appliance
  • unplug an appliance

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Appliance is related to apply. It came into English through French from a Latin root behind apply. Earlier uses were about putting something to use; later the word narrowed to a tool or machine used for a practical purpose, especially in the home.