blacksmith

American  

[blak-smith] / ˈblækˌsmɪθ /

noun

1. a person who makes horseshoes and shoes horses.

2. a person who forges objects of iron.

3. a blackish damselfish, Chromis punctipinnis, inhabiting coastal waters off southern California.

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blacksmith British  

/ ˈblækˌsmɪθ /

noun

1. an artisan who works iron with a furnace, anvil, hammer, etc

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Etymology

Origin of blacksmith

1250–1300; Middle English; black (in reference to iron or black metal), smith ( def. ); whitesmith

Explanation

A blacksmith is someone who makes tools and other objects out of metal. Working as a blacksmith involves heating metal then bending and hammering it into the desired shape. Blacksmiths mainly work with iron and steel, heating it until it's soft enough to bend, fold, and shape using tools. A blacksmith can make things like wrought iron fences and gates, knives and other cooking utensils, and metal light fixtures. While today many metal items once made by blacksmiths are mass produced in factories, there's a renewed interest in learning to make metal objects by hand.

Example Sentences

After some trial and error, he and a local blacksmith retrofitted a hand-cranked coffee mill so that it could efficiently twist wire into uniform barbs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

Became a blacksmith — he put the shoes on the horses that Barton and his constables were going to use to pursue Las Manillas.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 10, 2025

Ahmed Al-Khatib was a blacksmith in Syria when he met Ms Alayed.

From BBC • Feb. 28, 2025

It’s hand-hammered by a blacksmith, resulting in a beautiful finish and an heirloom-quality roaster.

From Salon • Dec. 17, 2024

“We have to do something about this one. The blacksmith said he’s the one who started the fire in your barn.”

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack