Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

macgyver

/məˈɡaɪvɚ/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.48 in modern English

Syllables: mac-gyver
IPA: /məˈɡaɪvɚ/

19

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Someone capable of improvising an ingenious solution from everyday objects or unsuitable resources.

verb

To assemble or repair something by ingenious improvisation, using everyday items that would not usually be used for the purpose.

Dated; Transitive verb

verb

Alternative spelling of MacGyver.

Example Sentences

"Our car broke down and we didn't have any tools but Jim MacGyvered it with some toenail clippers and we were able to limp to the service station."
"It is why some of the American troops experimented with commercial drones that they could weaponize by fixing with explosives, to see how to counter such tactics, much as Russian troops have had to learn how to defend against Ukraine’s use of store-bought drones that have been MacGyvered with explosives."

Etymology

From the name of the eponymous character in the television program MacGyver, a secret agent with an uncanny ability to construct weapons from seemingly useless bits of junk.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /məˈɡaɪvɚ/
British English: /məˈɡaɪvə/

Usage

Inflected Forms

MacGyvers (plural) MacGyvers (present, singular) MacGyvering (participle, present) MacGyvered (participle, past) MacGyvered (past)

Frequently Paired Words

MacGyverism

Synonyms

jury-rig nigger-rig

Rhymes With

driver survivor diver ivor iver shriver siver niver skiver schriver scriver schryver

Questions

How do you pronounce macgyver?: The recorded pronunciation is /məˈɡaɪvɚ/.
What does macgyver mean?: Someone capable of improvising an ingenious solution from everyday objects or unsuitable resources.
Where does macgyver come from?: From the name of the eponymous character in the television program MacGyver, a secret agent with an uncanny ability to construct weapons from seemingly useless bits of junk.

How to pronounce macgyver

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “macgyver”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/məˈɡaɪvɚ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “macgyver”.
Repeat and practice — Say “macgyver” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.