# pitchfork

/ˈpɪtʃˌfɔɹk/ (US) · /pˈɪtʃfɔːk/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pitchfork
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

a large tool with a long handle and sharp metal points used for lifting and moving hay or grass.

For teachers: a long-handled farm tool with two or more sharp, curved metal tines used for lifting and tossing hay, straw, or grain.

## Examples

- The farmer used a pitchfork to move the hay into the barn.
- After the harvest, the workers spent the afternoon using pitchforks to stack the straw into neat piles.
- The angry crowd in the historical drama was depicted carrying torches and pitchforks, a classic visual trope representing a sudden and unorganized uprising of common people.

## Usage notes

- Often used metaphorically in the phrase 'pitchforks and torches' to describe a mob or public outrage.

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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.