Meaning & use

shaft

noun·Academic

A long, narrow passage or rod, such as a mine shaft or the handle of a tool.

See it in a sentence

Miners rode a small elevator down the deep mine shaft each morning.

A single shaft of sunlight broke through the clouds over the valley.

A note on using this word

"Shaft" also appears in the informal expression "get the shaft," meaning to be treated unfairly.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. verb

To treat someone unfairly, especially by cheating them out of something (informal).

He felt shafted when his coworker took credit for the idea.

Make it your own

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