# lancet

/ˈɫænsət/ (US) · /lˈɑːnsɪt/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lancet
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

a small, very sharp knife with two edges. Doctors use it to make small cuts or to take blood samples.

For teachers: a small, broad, two-edged surgical knife with a sharp point. Also refers to a high, narrow window with a pointed arch in Gothic architecture.

## Examples

- The doctor used a sterile lancet to prick my finger.
- The surgeon carefully selected a lancet to perform the delicate incision required for the procedure.
- The cathedral's facade was dominated by tall lancet windows that allowed narrow shafts of light to illuminate the stone floor of the nave.

## Usage notes

- In its architectural sense, it often appears as a modifier in the phrase 'lancet window'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.