1
a
: mop
especially
: a yarn mop
b(1)
: a wad of absorbent material usually wound around one end of a small stick and used especially for applying medication or for removing material from an area
(2)
: a specimen taken with a swab
c
: a sponge or cloth patch attached to a long handle and used to clean the bore of a firearm
swabbed; swabbing
1
: to clean with or as if with a swab
2
: to apply medication to with a swab
swabbed the wound with iodine
Examples of swab in a Sentence
Noun
Use a cotton swab dipped in alcohol to disinfect the area.
The doctor took a throat swab and sent it to the lab.
Verb
The nurse swabbed the cut with a disinfectant.
Recent Examples on the Web
Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2025
It can be performed at the same time—and even with the same swab—as the Pap smear (a practice known as co-testing).
—Kelly Burch Published, Verywell Health, 30 Jan. 2025
Mark Price, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2025
At the start of the study, each participant swabbed their genitals to provide a baseline sample of their ‘down there’ microbiome.
—Paul McClure 12, New Atlas, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swab
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Depending on the condition, testing can be done with a blood, saliva, or cheek swab sample.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2025
It can be performed at the same time—and even with the same swab—as the Pap smear (a practice known as co-testing).
—Kelly Burch Published, Verywell Health, 30 Jan. 2025
Verb
In cases where the entire fish was taken, the monofilament fishing line was swabbed for DNA, the report says.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2025
At the start of the study, each participant swabbed their genitals to provide a baseline sample of their ‘down there’ microbiome.
—Paul McClure 12, New Atlas, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swab
Cite this Entry
“Swab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swab. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
swab
1 of 2 noun1
b
: a wad of absorbent material usually wound around one end of a small stick and used especially for applying medicine or for removing material (as from a wound)
also
: a sample taken with a swab
2
: sailor
swab
2 of 2 verb
swabbed; swabbing
: to use a swab on
Medical Definition
swab
1 of 2 noun1
: a wad of absorbent material usually wound around one end of a small stick and used for applying medication or for removing material from an area
2
: a specimen taken with a swab
a throat swab
swab
2 of 2 transitive verb
swabbed; swabbing
: to apply medication to with a swab
swabbed the wound with iodine
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share