variant spelling of axe entry 1, axe entry 2
1
: a cutting tool that consists of a heavy edged head fixed to a handle with the edge parallel to the handle and that is used especially for felling trees and chopping and splitting wood
2
: a hammer with a sharp edge for dressing (see dress entry 1 sense 6e) or spalling stone
3
informal
a
: removal from office or release from employment : dismissal
—usually used with the
Employees with poor evaluations got the axe.
Trump quickly gave him the ax [=fired him] for his incompetence.—
Laura Petrecca
Laura Petrecca
b
: abrupt elimination or severe reduction of something
Unlimited expense accounts, signing bonuses, and office plants—all are getting the ax [=being cut or eliminated] thanks to corporate cost-cutting measures.—Amanda Hinnant
Amanda HinnantNo party was brave enough to offend its supporters by taking an axe to [=severely reducing] expenditure.—The Economist
The Economist4
slang
: any of several musical instruments (such as a guitar or a saxophone)
1
axiom
2
axis
Examples of ax in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
Israel also drew international criticism after a soldier photographed himself bludgeoning a fallen statue of Jesus on the cross with an ax in southern Lebanon.
—Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
The convent demolition also came days after images of an Israeli soldier wielding an ax against a fallen statue of Jesus on the cross in the village of Debel sparked widespread condemnation.
—ABC News, 6 May 2026
There will also be the signature backyard games such as ax-throwing, cornhole, jumbo beer pong, giant Jenga and more.
—Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ax
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.
Noun
McNally, who authorities say was on probation after attacking a dog with an ax, had been staying intermittently in trailers in the El Cajon region in September 2023.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
Israel also drew international criticism after a soldier photographed himself bludgeoning a fallen statue of Jesus on the cross with an ax in southern Lebanon.
—Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
The convent demolition also came days after images of an Israeli soldier wielding an ax against a fallen statue of Jesus on the cross in the village of Debel sparked widespread condemnation.
—ABC News, 6 May 2026
There will also be the signature backyard games such as ax-throwing, cornhole, jumbo beer pong, giant Jenga and more.
—Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ax
Cite this Entry
“Ax.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ax. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationBiographical Definition
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
