Swiss Army knife

US/ˌswɪsˈɑɹmiˌnaɪf/

noun

Any of a class of multi-function pocket knives or multitools, having a blade and various tools, such as screwdrivers and can openers.

“This software has been a good Swiss Army knife for us as we rebuild our systems.”

Similar
Swiss Army penknife
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Meanings

nounSwiss Army knife (plural Swiss Army knives)

plural Swiss Army knives

  1. Any of a class of multi-function pocket knives or multitools, having a blade and various tools, such as screwdrivers and can openers.

    She carries a Swiss Army knife for the convenience of having dozens of small tools handy at any moment.

    Synonyms: Swiss Army penknife

  2. broadlyfigurativelyA tool or approach that has many functions, one for every perceivable need.

    This software has been a good Swiss Army knife for us as we rebuild our systems.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounAny of a class of multi-function pocket knives or multitools, having a blade and various tools, such as screwdrivers and can openers.

Similar
Swiss Army penknife

Origin

From the prominent (although not exclusive) association of this type of knife with officers of the Swiss Army; see Swiss Army knife § History for details.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic سِكِّين سْوِيسِرِيّ
  • سِكِّين سْوِيسِرِيّ (sikkīn swīsiriyy)type of pocket knife
Bulgarian швейца́рско но́жче
  • швейца́рско но́жче (švejcársko nóžče)type of pocket knife
Catalan navalla suïssa
  • navalla suïssatype of pocket knife
Chinese Mandarin 瑞士軍刀 /瑞士军刀, 瑞士刀
  • 瑞士軍刀 /瑞士军刀 (Ruìshì jūndāo)type of pocket knife
  • 瑞士刀 (Ruìshìdāo)type of pocket knife
  • 瑞士軍官刀 /瑞士军官刀 (Ruìshì jūnguān dāo)type of pocket knife
Czech švýcarský nůž
  • švýcarský nůžtype of pocket knife
Danish schweizerkniv
  • schweizerknivtype of pocket knife
Dutch Zwitsers zakmes
  • Zwitsers zakmestype of pocket knife
Finnish Sveitsin armeijan veitsi, sveitsinveitsi
  • Sveitsin armeijan veitsitype of pocket knife
  • sveitsinveitsitype of pocket knife
French couteau suisse
  • couteau suissetype of pocket knife
German Schweizer Messer, Schweizer Offiziersmesser
  • Schweizer Messertype of pocket knife
  • Schweizer Offiziersmessertype of pocket knife
  • Schweizer Taschenmessertype of pocket knife
Greek ελβετικός σουγιάς
  • ελβετικός σουγιάς (elvetikós sougiás)type of pocket knife
Hungarian svájci bicska
  • svájci bicskatype of pocket knife
Irish scian airm Eilvéiseach
  • scian airm Eilvéiseachtype of pocket knife
Italian coltellino svizzero
  • coltellino svizzerotype of pocket knife
Japanese アーミーナイフ, スイスアーミーナイフ
  • アーミーナイフ (āmī-naifu)type of pocket knife
  • スイスアーミーナイフ (suisu-āmī-naifu)type of pocket knife
Persian چاقوی سوئیسی
  • چاقوی سوئیسی (čǎqu-ye suisi)type of pocket knife
Polish szwajcarski nóż oficerski
  • szwajcarski nóż oficerskitype of pocket knife
Portuguese canivete suíço
  • canivete suíçotype of pocket knife
Russian швейца́рский арме́йский нож, швейца́рский нож
  • швейца́рский арме́йский нож (švejcárskij arméjskij nož)type of pocket knife
  • швейца́рский нож (švejcárskij nož)type of pocket knife
Spanish navaja suiza
  • navaja suizatype of pocket knife
Swedish schweizisk armékniv
  • schweizisk arméknivtype of pocket knife
Thai มีดพับสวิส
  • มีดพับสวิส (mêet páp sàwìt)type of pocket knife
Turkish İsviçre çakısı
  • İsviçre çakısıtype of pocket knife
Cite this entry
APA

Swiss Army knife. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Swiss%20Army%20knife

MLA

“Swiss Army knife.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Swiss%20Army%20knife. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Swiss Army knife,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Swiss%20Army%20knife.

Source: Swiss Army knife on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.