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Definition of thumbtack

thumbtack

/ˈθʌm.tæk/
thumb · tack
Plural:thumbtacks
•
Past Simple:thumbtacked
•
Past Participle:thumbtacked
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Present Participle:thumbtacking
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thumbtack Lexical Profile

thumbtack Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

North American A short tack with a broad, flat head, designed to be pressed into a wall or bulletin board with the thumb.

Example

"She used a red thumbtack to secure the flyer to the community corkboard."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for thumbtack

• verb

1

North American To fasten or attach an object to a surface using a short, flat-headed tack.

Example

"He thumbtacked the map to his bedroom wall to plan his upcoming road trip."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for thumbtack
Antonyms
View all antonyms for thumbtack

Word Nuance & Usage

The word 'thumbtack' is primarily used in North American English; the British English equivalent is 'drawing pin'.

• Nearby Words

thumbprint
thumbscrew
thumbstick
thumbtack
thump
thumper
thumping

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in North America in the early 20th century as a compound of 'thumb' and 'tack', explicitly describing a short tack that can be manually pushed into a surface using only the thumb.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Thumbtack. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/thumbtack
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