name
Phillips
FIH-lihps
name
1
A common surname, originally meaning "son of Philip."
"The Phillips family has lived in that house for generations."
noun
1
Short for a Phillips screwdriver, or the cross-shaped screw head it fits.
"Grab the phillips, not the flathead, for these screws."
How to Use Phillips
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA common surname; also everyday shorthand for a Phillips screwdriver.
Common pairings
Phillips screwdriver
Phillips head
Word Forms
Phillipses plural, Phillips plural, Phillipses plural
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The _____ family has lived in that house for generations.
Etymology
Formed from the name Phillip plus the possessive/patronymic "-s."