plural styli
ˈstī(-ə)-ˌlī 
also styluses
ˈstī-lə-səz
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)
(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
Apple's iPads are not marketed with an IP rating, and the Apple Pencil stylus is an optional accessory.
—
PC Magazine, 13 Oct. 2025
That phone has better performance and adds a stylus for good measure.
—Julian Chokkattu, Wired News, 8 Oct. 2025
Naturally, these aren't feature-packed as an iPad with a stylus – but that's sort of the point.
—New Atlas, 1 Oct. 2025
Kumon Connect is a digital platform that allows kids to use tablets and stylus to complete their math, reading and English worksheets without paper clutter and comes at no extra fee for families.
—Shawn Price, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stylus
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PC Magazine, 13 Oct. 2025
That phone has better performance and adds a stylus for good measure.
—Julian Chokkattu, Wired News, 8 Oct. 2025
Naturally, these aren't feature-packed as an iPad with a stylus – but that's sort of the point.
—New Atlas, 1 Oct. 2025
Kumon Connect is a digital platform that allows kids to use tablets and stylus to complete their math, reading and English worksheets without paper clutter and comes at no extra fee for families.
—Shawn Price, Oc Register, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for stylus
Cite this Entry
“Stylus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stylus. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stylus
noun
sty·lus
ˈstī-ləs
plural styli
ˈstī(ə)l-ˌī
also styluses
ˈstī-lə-səz
also styluses
ˈstī-lə-səz
1
: an instrument used by the ancients for writing on wax tablets
Medical Definition
stylus
noun
sty·lus
variants
also stilus
plural styli
ˈstī(ə)l-ˌī
also styluses
ˈstī-lə-səz
or stili or stiluses
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
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