ploughshare: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Literary, formal, historical, biblical
Quick answer
What does “ploughshare” mean?
The broad, pointed, often metal blade of a plough, which cuts the soil and forms the furrow.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The broad, pointed, often metal blade of a plough, which cuts the soil and forms the furrow.
Symbolically, it can refer to the concept of tools of agriculture or peaceful industry, particularly in the phrase 'beat swords into ploughshares' (to convert military resources to peaceful purposes).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily a spelling difference: BrE 'ploughshare' vs AmE 'plowshare'. The word's contextual use is identical.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties—carries a strong literary, historical, and biblical connotation.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both, with a slight edge in BrE due to the spelling preserving the traditional 'plough' form.
Grammar
How to Use “ploughshare” in a Sentence
[Verb] + [into] + ploughshare(s) (e.g., forge, beat, turn)The ploughshare + [Verb] (e.g., cuts, turns, broke)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ploughshare” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The blacksmith was commissioned to ploughshare the old cannon.
- They vowed to ploughshare their weapons after the war.
American English
- The prophet spoke of a time to plowshare instruments of war.
- The community aimed to plowshare their conflict into cooperation.
adverb
British English
- The metal was forged ploughshare-sharp.
- He worked ploughshare-deep in the field.
American English
- The policy was implemented plowshare-slowly.
- The artifact was buried plowshare-deep.
adjective
British English
- The ploughshare blade was worn smooth.
- A ploughshare mentality focused on cultivation, not conquest.
American English
- The plowshare principle guided their foreign policy.
- They examined the plowshare design in the museum.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, agricultural, literary, theological, or peace studies contexts.
Everyday
Extremely rare outside of referencing the specific biblical idiom.
Technical
Can appear in historical archaeology or agricultural history texts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ploughshare”
- Mispronouncing 'share' as the common word for 'portion' instead of /ʃeər/ (which is identical).
- Using it in a modern farming context where it sounds archaic.
- Misspelling as 'ploughshair' or 'plowshair'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency word used almost exclusively in historical, literary, or metaphorical contexts, most famously in the idiom 'beat swords into ploughshares'.
There is no difference in meaning. 'Ploughshare' is the British English spelling, and 'plowshare' is the American English spelling.
In standard modern usage, it is a noun. The examples provided as verbs are non-standard, creative, or archaic uses, typically based on the metaphorical idiom.
It is not related to the modern word meaning 'a portion'. It comes from Old English 'scear', meaning 'cutting' or 'blade', related to 'shear'. So, it's the 'cutting part' of the plough.
The broad, pointed, often metal blade of a plough, which cuts the soil and forms the furrow.
Ploughshare is usually literary, formal, historical, biblical in register.
Ploughshare: in British English it is pronounced /ˈplaʊ.ʃeər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈplaʊ.ʃer/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “beat/turn swords into ploughshares”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: a PLOW (plough) that you SHARE with the earth to plant seeds. Or, the 'share' is the part that 'shares' the soil.
Conceptual Metaphor
TOOL FOR PEACEFUL LABOUR (vs weapon for war). AGRICULTURE AS FOUNDATION OF CIVILISATION.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'ploughshare' MOST likely to be used today?