Gavel: meaning, definitions and examples

Can also refer to a small ceremonial hammer used by a chairman or other official in formal meetings or auctions.

• The auctioneer's gavel fell, and the item was sold.
• She tapped the gavel to gain everyone's attention.

Used in a wide range of situations, primarily for driving nails or breaking objects in construction and DIY projects.

• He used a hammer to hang the picture frame.
• The worker hammered the nail into the wood.

A type of hammer with a large, usually wooden head, often used in woodworking or playing musical instruments like a xylophone.

• The carpenter used a mallet to join the wooden pieces.
• She struck the xylophone keys with a mallet.

Refers to a ceremonial staff carried as a symbol of authority, often in legislative or academic settings. Can also mean a weapon from the medieval period.

• The university provost carried the mace during the graduation ceremony.
• Historical reenactors displayed a replica of a medieval mace.

Used in judicial settings or during formal meetings to call for attention or signal the start or end of proceedings.

• The judge raised her gavel to silence the courtroom
• The chairman brought the meeting to order with a firm strike of the gavel

Commonly used in construction, carpentry, or for DIY tasks to drive nails into materials or to break objects.

• He used a hammer to drive nails into the wooden board
• She grabbed a hammer to fix the loose shelf

Used in woodworking, sports like croquet, or to hit softer materials without causing damage. It has a larger, often wooden head compared to a hammer.

• The carpenter used a wooden mallet to carve intricate designs
• He swung the mallet with precision during the croquet match

Historically used as a weapon, and in modern times, it's often a ceremonial staff used in parades or official events to symbolize authority.

• The guard carried a ceremonial mace during the parade
• In medieval times, knights often used a heavy mace in battle