Phrase guide

Swiss Army knife

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /ˌswɪsˈɑɹmiˌnaɪf/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

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

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

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

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: Swiss Army penknife

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

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

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly, figuratively

Examples

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

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

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.

Across languages

Translations

31 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: سِكِّين سْوِيسِرِيّ (sikkīn swīsiriyy) — type of pocket knife
  • Bulgarian: швейца́рско но́жче (švejcársko nóžče) — type of pocket knife
  • Catalan: navalla suïssa — type of pocket knife
  • Chinese Mandarin: 瑞士軍刀 /瑞士军刀 (Ruìshì jūndāo) — type of pocket knife
  • Chinese Mandarin: 瑞士刀 (Ruìshìdāo) — type of pocket knife
  • Chinese Mandarin: 瑞士軍官刀 /瑞士军官刀 (Ruìshì jūnguān dāo) — type of pocket knife
  • Czech: švýcarský nůž — type of pocket knife
  • Danish: schweizerkniv — type of pocket knife
  • Dutch: Zwitsers zakmes — type of pocket knife
  • Finnish: Sveitsin armeijan veitsi — type of pocket knife
  • Finnish: sveitsinveitsi — type of pocket knife
  • French: couteau suisse — type of pocket knife
  • German: Schweizer Messer — type of pocket knife
  • German: Schweizer Offiziersmesser — type of pocket knife
  • German: Schweizer Taschenmesser — type of pocket knife
  • Greek: ελβετικός σουγιάς (elvetikós sougiás) — type of pocket knife
  • Hungarian: svájci bicska — type of pocket knife
  • Irish: scian airm Eilvéiseach — type of pocket knife
  • Italian: coltellino svizzero — type of pocket knife
  • Japanese: アーミーナイフ (āmī-naifu) — type of pocket knife
  • Japanese: スイスアーミーナイフ (suisu-āmī-naifu) — type of pocket knife
  • Mongolian: Швейцарийн армийн хутга (Švejcariin armiin xutga) — type of pocket knife
  • Persian: چاقوی سوئیسی (čǎqu-ye suisi) — type of pocket knife
  • Polish: szwajcarski nóż oficerski — type of pocket knife
  • Portuguese: canivete suíço — type of pocket knife
  • Russian: швейца́рский арме́йский нож (švejcárskij arméjskij nož) — type of pocket knife
  • Russian: швейца́рский нож (švejcárskij nož) — type of pocket knife
  • Spanish: navaja suiza — type of pocket knife
  • Swedish: schweizisk armékniv — type of pocket knife
  • Thai: มีดพับสวิส (mêet páp sàwìt) — type of pocket knife
  • Turkish: İsviçre çakısı — type of pocket knife