Etch A Sketch

proper noun

A mechanical drawing toy operated by two knobs moving an enclosed stylus horizontally and vertically.

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Meanings

proper noun

alternative Etch-A-Sketch · alternative Etch-a-Sketch · alternative etch-a-sketch

  1. A mechanical drawing toy operated by two knobs moving an enclosed stylus horizontally and vertically.
    1 more example

    You win by giving people a choice. You win by giving people the opportunity to see a different vision for our country, not someone who’s just going to be a little different than the person in there. If you’re going to be a little different, we might as well stay with what we have instead of taking a risk with what may be the Etch A Sketch candidate of the future.

    2012 March 22, Rick Santorum, presidential campaign speech to employees of the United Services Automobile Association, San Antonio

Origin

Coined by the Ohio Art Company c. 1959–1962; previously known (in French) as L'Ecran Magique ("magic screen").

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Etch A Sketch. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Etch%20A%20Sketch

MLA

“Etch A Sketch.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Etch%20A%20Sketch. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Etch A Sketch,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Etch%20A%20Sketch.

Source: Etch A Sketch on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.