socket wrench

noun

: a wrench usually in the form of a bar and removable socket made to fit a bolt or nut

Illustration of socket wrench

Illustration of socket wrench

Examples of socket wrench in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For example, approximately two-thirds of all socket wrenches, band saws, blowtorches, air compressors and grinders imported into the U.S. come from that island. Jay L. Zagorsky, The Conversation, 4 Apr. 2025 Most require a minimum of tools, often no more than a socket wrench set or a crescent wrench. Patrick Brady, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2025 That may explain the appearance of Penske Auto Group, which sells and services trucks; LKQ, which distributes aftermarket repair parts, and Snap-on, which sells socket wrenches to mechanics. William Baldwin, Forbes, 6 Oct. 2024 To access the rod, use a socket wrench on the anode rod hex head located on top of the water heater or under the top plate. Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 July 2024 Replacing a defective socket or socket wrench can be a matter of bringing the broken tool to the place of purchase and receiving a replacement—often no questions asked. Sarah Halverson, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Aug. 2023 With the wheel cover off, use a socket wrench to remove the wheel bolt. Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 17 Mar. 2023 After saturating the blade bolt with penetrant (shown above), place a block of wood behind the blade to keep it from turning and loosen the bolt with a socket wrench. Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 17 Mar. 2023 Tighten the bolt on by hand, and finish tightening it with a socket wrench. Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 17 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of socket wrench was circa 1890

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Cite this Entry

“Socket wrench.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/socket%20wrench. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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