stylus

noun

sty·​lus ˈstī-ləs 

plural styli ˈstī(-ə)-ˌlī  also styluses ˈstī-lə-səz 

: an instrument for writing, marking, or incising: such as

a

: an instrument used by the ancients in writing on clay or waxed tablets

b

: a hard-pointed pen-shaped instrument for marking on stencils used in a reproducing machine

c(1)

: needle sense 3c

(2)

: a cutting tool used to produce an original record groove during disc recording

d

: a pen-shaped pointing device used for entering data (such as positional information from a graphics tablet) into a computer

Examples of stylus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Its large and vibrant display makes your daily scrolling and streaming a pleasure, and that stylus is a fun bonus for doodling or quick notes. —Shubham Yewale, PCMAG, 14 Jan. 2025

Yep, like the Galaxy S24 Ultra, there's a stylus built into the bottom of this phone for ultimate doodling. —Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2024

Other third-party iPad styluses that support features like tilt detection and pressure sensitivity are more expensive, such as the $70 Adonit Note Plus. —Andrew Liszewski, The Verge, 22 Nov. 2024

These tiny indents are made (and read) using a fine-tip probe mounted on an atomic force microscope … not by a reed stylus. —Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 31 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin stylus, stilus spike, stylus — more at style

First Known Use

1773, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

stylus

noun

sty·​lus ˈstī-ləs 

plural styli ˈstī(ə)l-ˌī  also styluses ˈstī-lə-səz 

1

: an instrument used by the ancients for writing on wax tablets

2

: needle entry 1 sense 4

Medical Definition

stylus

noun

sty·​lus

variants also stilus

ˈstī-ləs 

plural styli ˈstī(ə)l-ˌī  also styluses ˈstī-lə-səz  or stili or stiluses

: an instrument for writing, marking, or incising: as

a

: a hard-pointed instrument for punching the dots in writing braille with a braille slate

b

: a device that traces a recording (as of an electrocardiograph) on paper