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Definition of wire stripper
wire stripper
Plural:wire strippers
wire stripper Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
6
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
• noun
1
A small, hand-held tool resembling pliers, designed to cut and remove the protective electrical insulation from electric wires without damaging the underlying metal conductor.
Example
"The electrician used a pair of wire strippers to expose the copper ends before connecting them to the terminal block."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for wire stripperWord Nuance & Usage
Often referred to in the plural as 'a pair of wire strippers', similar to other hinged hand tools like pliers or scissors.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
A compound noun formed from 'wire' (from Old English 'wir') and 'stripper' (derived from the verb 'strip' plus the agent suffix '-er'). The term emerged alongside the widespread adoption of electrical wiring in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Wire stripper. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/wire stripper