Tools vs. Equipment — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Published on November 3, 2023
Tools are usually hand-held devices used for specific tasks, while equipment refers to a set of tools or machinery used for a specific purpose.
Difference Between Tools and Equipment
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Tools typically refer to instruments or devices, often hand-held, utilized to perform a specific task with skill. Imagine a carpenter; his hammer, saw, and nails are all examples of tools. They are directly manipulated to perform a function and are typically simplistic in nature. Equipment, on the other hand, carries a broader connotation. This term may encompass machinery, sets of tools, or other apparatuses which serve a specific purpose. In a laboratory, for example, a microscope, safety goggles, and centrifuge constitute essential equipment. The microscope is not a tool per se, but a piece of equipment, demonstrating that equipment often suggests a level of complexity or specialization that tools do not.
When we discuss the range and breadth of tools, we observe a limitation in terms of functionality and complexity. A tool generally performs one specific action, or a set of related actions. The simplicity of tools contrasts with the often more complex and multifunctional nature of equipment. Think about a kitchen: a whisk is a tool, while a refrigerator is a piece of equipment. The whisk performs the straightforward task of blending or beating, while the refrigerator has a complex system working to cool and preserve food.
Similarly, durability and size can also differentiate tools and equipment. Tools tend to be smaller, handheld devices, like a wrench or hammer, and often have a solid, sturdy construction to withstand repetitive use and wear. Equipment, conversely, may be delicate, sizable, and stationary. An X-ray machine in a medical facility is a piece of equipment; it's large, complex, and not something that can be picked up and manipulated by hand.
Additionally, it’s essential to note that equipment can encompass tools. Within a broader category of equipment, tools might be a subset used to perform specific tasks. In a mechanic’s workshop, the equipment includes the car lift, air compressors, and diagnostic machines, while tools refer to his wrenches, screwdrivers, and hammers.
Comparison Chart
General Definition
Handheld devices.
Machines or sets of tools.
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Size and Portability
Usually small and portable.
Can be large and stationary.
Complexity
Tend to be simple.
Can be complex and multifunctional.
Usage
For specific, often manual tasks.
For a broader set of tasks or purposes.
Examples
Hammer, screwdriver.
Refrigerator, microscope.
Compare with Definitions
Tools
Instruments used to perform a task.
He gathered his tools to fix the leaking faucet.
Equipment
The necessary items for a particular purpose.
The laboratory was stocked with scientific equipment.
Tools
A thing used in an occupation or pursuit.
Writers often consider computers their essential tools.
Equipment
All the fixed assets other than land and buildings.
The business invested in new office equipment, such as desks and chairs.
Tools
A means to an end in various activities.
Meditation can be a crucial tool in managing stress.
Equipment
Tools, machinery, and other durable assets.
Farmers use various equipment, such as tractors and plows, to cultivate crops.
Tools
A device, such as a saw, shovel, or drill, used to perform or facilitate manual or mechanical work.
Equipment
The act of equipping or the state of being equipped
Responsible for the rapid equipment of the troops.
Tools
A machine, such as a lathe, used to cut and shape machine parts or other objects.
Equipment
Something with which a person, organization, or thing is equipped
The athletes keep their equipment in the locker room.
Tools
The cutting part of such a machine.
Equipment
The rolling stock especially of a transportation system.
Tools
Something regarded as necessary to the carrying out of one's occupation or profession
Words are the tools of our trade.
Equipment
The mental and emotional resources of an individual
Doesn't have the equipment to cope.
Tools
Something used in the performance of an operation; an instrument
"Modern democracies have the fiscal and monetary tools ... to end chronic slumps and galloping inflations" (Paul A. Samuelson).
Equipment
The act of equipping, or the state of being equipped, as for a voyage or expedition.
Tools
Vulgar Slang The penis.
Equipment
Any items used in equipping something or someone, for example things needed for an expedition or voyage.
We need more gardening equipment if we want to properly landscape our yard, not just a rake and some gloves.
The sports shop sells different kits of famous clubs, and equipment from all kind of sports.
Tools
A person used to carry out the designs of another; a dupe.
Equipment
The male genitalia.
Tools
A bookbinder's hand stamp.
Equipment
The act of equipping, or the state of being equipped, as for a voyage or expedition.
The equipment of the fleet was hastened by De Witt.
Tools
A design impressed on a book cover by such a stamp.
Equipment
Whatever is used in equipping; necessaries for an expedition or voyage; the collective designation for the articles comprising an outfit; equipage; as, a railroad equipment (locomotives, cars, etc. ; for carrying on business); horse equipments; infantry equipments; naval equipments; laboratory equipments.
Armed and dight,In the equipments of a knight.
Tools
(Computers) A utility program.
Equipment
An instrumentality needed for an undertaking or to perform a service
Tools
To form, work, or decorate with a tool.
Equipment
Items needed for the performance of a task.
Camping requires a lot of equipment, like tents and sleeping bags.
Tools
To ornament (a book cover) with a bookbinder's tool.
Equipment
Items used in providing a service.
The photographer checked his equipment before the big shoot.
Tools
(Slang) To drive (a vehicle)
Tooled the car at 80 miles an hour.
Tools
To work with a tool.
Tools
(Slang) To drive or ride in a vehicle
Tooled up and down the roads.
Tools
Plural of tool
Tools
Devices that aid in accomplishing a scientific task.
Archaeologists use various tools to uncover ancient artifacts.
Tools
Software or applications used for specific digital functions.
Graphic designers utilize numerous digital tools to create artwork.
Common Curiosities
What are tools typically used for?
Tools are typically used for carrying out specific manual tasks.
Can tools be considered equipment?
Not usually, tools are generally a subset within equipment.
Is a computer a tool or equipment?
It can be seen as both, depending on the context and specificity of use.
Do tools always refer to physical items?
No, tools can also refer to digital or conceptual means used to carry out a task.
Can something be both a tool and a piece of equipment?
It can, depending on its usage and context.
How is equipment used in a sentence?
"The scientists arranged their equipment before starting the experiment."
Is a software program considered a tool?
Yes, software programs are often referred to as tools, especially in technical and digital fields.
What is the plural form of equipment?
Equipment is both singular and plural. There is no "equipments."
Can equipment include tools?
Yes, equipment can encompass various tools used for specific purposes within a larger task.
How is the word tools utilized in a non-physical sense?
The term tools can refer to strategies or methods, e.g., “learning tools.”
Can the usage of tools and equipment overlap?
Yes, in some contexts, the use of the terms tools and equipment can overlap or be interchangeable.
Is equipment only referred to in a professional or industrial context?
No, equipment can be referred to in various contexts, including personal, recreational, and domestic.
What defines a piece of equipment as being such?
A piece of equipment is defined by its utility in achieving a particular function, often with a level of complexity.
Are all machines considered equipment?
Generally, yes – machines used for specific purposes are considered equipment.
What is an example of a physical tool?
A physical tool example is a hammer.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
