squeegee: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Everyday, Technical (cleaning, construction, photography)
Quick answer
What does “squeegee” mean?
A tool with a flat rubber blade set on a handle, used to clear or clean surfaces by scraping liquid off them.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A tool with a flat rubber blade set on a handle, used to clear or clean surfaces by scraping liquid off them.
Any device that operates on a similar principle of scraping or clearing a surface (e.g., in industrial machinery, photographic darkrooms, or windshield cleaning at fuel stations). Can also refer to the act of using such a tool.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling is identical. Usage is common in both varieties. The verb form may be slightly more common in American English in contexts like 'squeegee a windshield.'
Connotations
In both varieties, it strongly connotes manual cleaning, often of windows, floors, or vehicle glass. Can carry connotations of low-skilled labour or informal street work (e.g., 'squeegee kids' or 'squeegee men').
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to the common practice of windshield cleaning at self-service fuel stations.
Grammar
How to Use “squeegee” in a Sentence
VERB + OBJECT (squeegee the window)VERB + PARTICLE + OBJECT (squeegee the water off the glass)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “squeegee” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I'll just squeegee the shower screen before I get out.
- The ground crew squeegeed the runway after the heavy downpour.
American English
- Can you squeegee the windshield before we drive off?
- They had to squeegee the flooded garage floor.
adjective
British English
- The squeegee blade needs replacing.
- A squeegee board is used in some water sports.
American English
- He bought a new squeegee handle.
- The squeegee technique is vital for screen printing.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
A janitorial supplies catalogue listed professional-grade floor squeegees.
Academic
The physics of the meniscus formation and breakage is central to the squeegee's efficiency.
Everyday
After your shower, give the tiles a quick squeegee to prevent water stains.
Technical
The printmaker used a rubber squeegee to force ink through the screen.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “squeegee”
- Incorrect spelling: 'squeegy', 'squeegie'.
- Using as a mass noun (e.g., 'some squeegee' instead of 'a squeegee').
- Confusing it with a 'squeeze' (a different action).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. As a noun, it's the tool. As a verb, it means to clean or clear a surface using such a tool (e.g., 'to squeegee a window').
It is believed to be an alteration of 'squeeze', influenced by the word 'gee' (a command to a horse), perhaps mimicking the sound or motion of the action.
A 'wiper' (like a windscreen/windshield wiper) is typically a motorised, oscillating blade on vehicles. A 'squeegee' is usually a manual, handheld tool with a single rubber blade on a handle.
No, it's designed for smooth, non-porous surfaces like glass, tiles, or sealed flooring. Using it on rough or delicate surfaces could cause scratches or damage.
A tool with a flat rubber blade set on a handle, used to clear or clean surfaces by scraping liquid off them.
Squeegee is usually everyday, technical (cleaning, construction, photography) in register.
Squeegee: in British English it is pronounced /ˈskwiːdʒiː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈskwidʒi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “squeegee merchant/person/kid (informal, refers to someone who cleans windscreens at traffic lights for money)”
- “squeegee off (phrasal verb for the action)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a queen (QUE) being squeezed (SQUEEZE) between two panes of glass, and she uses a long-handled tool to push herself out – a SQUEE-GEE.
Conceptual Metaphor
REMOVAL IS SCRAPING / CLEANING IS SCRAPING LIQUID AWAY.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is a 'squeegee' LEAST likely to be used?