Screw vs. Rivet: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 10, 2023
A "Screw" is a threaded fastener turned into materials, while a "Rivet" is a metal pin used to join two pieces of metal by passing through and then flattening its end.
Key Differences
"Screw" and "Rivet" are both types of fasteners, but they are used differently and have distinct characteristics. A "Screw" is a threaded fastener that can be turned into materials, either by a groove in its head or by interfacing with internal threads. It can be removed and re-used, making it versatile in many applications. On the other hand, a "Rivet" is a metal pin or bolt used to join two pieces of metal or other materials. Its end is passed through the materials and then flattened or otherwise secured, creating a permanent bond.
In terms of installation, screws require rotation, which is facilitated by the threads, and are typically driven by tools like screwdrivers or drills. "Rivets," in contrast, don't need rotation but are instead set by driving or pressing the tail, typically using a rivet gun or a hammer. This action causes the tail to expand and form a "head" on the opposite side of the materials, securing them together.
The primary difference in their functionality is reversibility. While screws can be easily removed, making them ideal for applications requiring adjustments or disassembly, rivets are more permanent. Once set, a "Rivet" typically can't be removed without drilling it out or otherwise destroying it.
From a grammatical standpoint, both "Screw" and "Rivet" function mainly as nouns but can also be used as verbs. To "screw" can mean to attach or tighten using a screw, while to "rivet" can mean to fix firmly or command attention. In conclusion, while both serve as fastening tools, their methods, and permanency in attachment differ considerably.
Comparison Chart
Primary Function
Threaded fastener for reversible attachment.
Metal pin for permanent attachment.
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Installation Method
Rotation (using threads).
Driving or pressing (forming a head).
Reversibility
Can be removed and re-used.
Typically permanent.
Grammatical Usage
Used as both a noun and a verb.
Used as both a noun and a verb.
Typical Tools
Screwdriver, drill.
Rivet gun, hammer.
Screw and Rivet Definitions
Screw
A cylindrical rod incised with one or more helical or advancing spiral threads, as a lead screw or worm screw.
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Rivet
A metal pin used to fasten two pieces of metal together.
The bridge's beams are held together by steel rivets.
Screw
The tapped collar or socket that receives this rod.
Rivet
To attract and completely engross.
The suspenseful movie riveted the audience's attention.
Screw
A tapered and pointed wood screw.
Rivet
A fastener that is hammered or pressed into place.
The leather jacket had decorative rivets.
Screw
A cylindrical and flat-tipped machine screw.
Rivet
To fix or hold something firmly in place.
His gaze was riveted on the screen.
Screw
A device having a helical form, such as a corkscrew.
Rivet
A metal bolt or pin having a head on one end, inserted through aligned holes in the pieces to be joined and then hammered on the plain end so as to form a second head.
Screw
A propeller.
Rivet
To fasten or secure, especially with a rivet or rivets.
Screw
A twist or turn, as of a screw.
Rivet
To hammer and bend or flatten the headless end of (a nail or bolt) so as to fasten something.
Screw
A prison guard.
Rivet
To fix the attention of (someone)
The audience was riveted by the suspense.
Screw
The turnkey of a jail.
Rivet
To engross or hold (the gaze or attention, for example).
Screw
Vulgar Slang The act or an instance of having sexual intercourse.
Rivet
A cylindrical mechanical fastener that attaches multiple parts together by fitting through a hole and deforming the head(s) at either end.
Screw
Salary; wages.
Rivet
(figuratively) Any fixed point or certain basis.
Screw
A small paper packet, as of tobacco.
Rivet
(obsolete) A light kind of footman's plate armour; an almain rivet. Category:en:Armor
Screw
An old broken-down horse.
Rivet
(transitive) To attach or fasten parts by using rivets.
Screw
A stingy or crafty bargainer.
Rivet
(transitive) To install rivets.
Screw
To drive or tighten (a screw).
Rivet
To command the attention of.
Screw
To fasten, tighten, or attach by means of a screw or similar fastener.
Rivet
To make firm or immovable.
Terror riveted him to the spot.
Screw
To attach (a tapped or threaded fitting or cap) by twisting into place.
Rivet
A metallic pin with a head, used for uniting two plates or pieces of material together, by passing it through them and then beating or pressing down the point so that it shall spread out and form a second head; a pin or bolt headed or clinched at both ends.
With busy hammers closing rivets up.
Screw
To rotate (a part) on a threaded axis.
Rivet
To fasten with a rivet, or with rivets; as, to rivet two pieces of iron.
Screw
To contort (one's face).
Rivet
To spread out the end or point of, as of a metallic pin, rod, or bolt, by beating or pressing, so as to form a sort of head.
Screw
(Slang) To treat (someone) unfairly; exploit or cheat
Screwed me out of the most lucrative sales territory.
Rivet
Hence, to fasten firmly; to make firm, strong, or immovable; as, to rivet friendship or affection.
Rivet and nail me where I stand, ye powers!
Thus his confidence was riveted and confirmed.
Screw
To turn or twist.
Rivet
Ornament consisting of a circular rounded protuberance (as on a vault or shield or belt)
Screw
To become attached by means of the threads of a screw.
Rivet
Heavy pin having a head at one end and the other end being hammered flat after being passed through holes in the pieces that are fastened together
Screw
To be capable of such attachment.
Rivet
Direct one's attention on something;
Please focus on your studies and not on your hobbies
Screw
Vulgar Slang To have sexual intercourse.
Rivet
Fasten with a rivet or rivets
Screw
A device that has a helical function.
Rivet
Hold (someone's attention);
The discovery of the skull riveted the paleontologists
Screw
A simple machine, a helical inclined plane.
Rivet
To make firm or stable.
The experience riveted her belief in miracles.
Screw
A (usually) metal fastener consisting of a partially or completely threaded shank, sometimes with a threaded point, and a head used to both hold the top material and to drive the screw either directly into a soft material or into a prepared hole.
Screw
(nautical) A ship's propeller.
Screw
An Archimedes screw.
Screw
A steam vessel propelled by a screw instead of wheels.
Screw
The motion of screwing something; a turn or twist to one side.
Screw
A prison guard.
Screw
An extortioner; a sharp bargainer; a skinflint.
Screw
An instructor who examines with great or unnecessary severity; also, a searching or strict examination of a student by an instructor.
Screw
Sexual intercourse; the act of screwing.
Screw
A casual sexual partner.
Screw
(slang) Salary, wages.
Screw
(billiards) Backspin.
Screw
(slang) A small packet of tobacco.
Screw
(dated) An old, worn-out, unsound and worthless horse.
Screw
(math) A straight line in space with which a definite linear magnitude termed the pitch is associated. It is used to express the displacement of a rigid body, which may always be made to consist of a rotation about an axis combined with a translation parallel to that axis.
Screw
An amphipod crustacean.
The skeleton screw (Caprella)
The sand screw
Screw
Rheumatism.
Screw
(transitive) To connect or assemble pieces using a screw.
Screw
To have sexual intercourse with.
Screw
To cheat someone or ruin their chances in a game or other situation.
Screw
(transitive) To extort or practice extortion upon; to oppress by unreasonable or extortionate exactions; to put the screws on.
Screw
(transitive) To contort.
Screw
To miskick (a ball) by hitting it with the wrong part of the foot.
Screw
To screw back.
Screw
To examine (a student) rigidly; to subject to a severe examination.
Screw
To leave; to go away; to scram.
Screw
A cylinder, or a cylindrical perforation, having a continuous rib, called the thread, winding round it spirally at a constant inclination, so as to leave a continuous spiral groove between one turn and the next, - used chiefly for producing, when revolved, motion or pressure in the direction of its axis, by the sliding of the threads of the cylinder in the grooves between the threads of the perforation adapted to it, the former being distinguished as the external, or male screw, or, more usually the screw; the latter as the internal, or female screw, or, more usually, the nut.
Screw
Specifically, a kind of nail with a spiral thread and a head with a nick to receive the end of the screw-driver. Screws are much used to hold together pieces of wood or to fasten something; - called also wood screws, and screw nails. See also Screw bolt, below.
Screw
Anything shaped or acting like a screw; esp., a form of wheel for propelling steam vessels. It is placed at the stern, and furnished with blades having helicoidal surfaces to act against the water in the manner of a screw. See Screw propeller, below.
Screw
A steam vesel propelled by a screw instead of wheels; a screw steamer; a propeller.
Screw
An extortioner; a sharp bargainer; a skinflint; a niggard.
Screw
An instructor who examines with great or unnecessary severity; also, a searching or strict examination of a student by an instructor.
Screw
A small packet of tobacco.
Screw
An unsound or worn-out horse, useful as a hack, and commonly of good appearance.
Screw
A straight line in space with which a definite linear magnitude termed the pitch is associated (cf. 5th Pitch, 10 (b)). It is used to express the displacement of a rigid body, which may always be made to consist of a rotation about an axis combined with a translation parallel to that axis.
Screw
An amphipod crustacean; as, the skeleton screw (Caprella). See Sand screw, under Sand.
Screw
To turn, as a screw; to apply a screw to; to press, fasten, or make firm, by means of a screw or screws; as, to screw a lock on a door; to screw a press.
Screw
To force; to squeeze; to press, as by screws.
But screw your courage to the sticking place,And we'll not fail.
Screw
Hence: To practice extortion upon; to oppress by unreasonable or extortionate exactions.
Our country landlords, by unmeasurable screwing and racking their tenants, have already reduced the miserable people to a worse condition than the peasants in France.
Screw
To twist; to distort; as, to screw his visage.
He screwed his face into a hardened smile.
Screw
To examine rigidly, as a student; to subject to a severe examination.
Screw
To use violent mans in making exactions; to be oppressive or exacting.
Screw
To turn one's self uneasily with a twisting motion; as, he screws about in his chair.
Screw
Someone who guards prisoners
Screw
A simple machine of the inclined-plane type consisting of a spirally threaded cylindrical rod that engages with a similarly threaded hole
Screw
A propeller with several angled blades that rotates to push against water or air
Screw
A fastener with a tapered threaded shank and a slotted head
Screw
Slang terms for sexual intercourse
Screw
Have sexual intercourse with;
This student sleeps with everyone in her dorm
Adam knew Eve
Were you ever intimate with this man?
Screw
Turn like a screw
Screw
Cause to penetrate, as with a circular motion;
Drive in screws or bolts
Screw
Tighten or fasten by means of screwing motions;
Screw the bottle cap on
Screw
Defeat someone in an expectation through trickery or deceit
Screw
A threaded fastener used to join materials together.
I need a screw to fix this chair.
Screw
A simple machine consisting of a cylindrical rod incised with one or more helical or spiral grooves into its surface.
The ancient Greeks used the screw in various applications.
Screw
An act of turning or twisting.
Give the lid a screw to tighten it.
Screw
To manipulate or alter, often in a dishonest way.
Don't screw with the settings on my computer!
FAQs
Do screws require a tool for installation?
Yes, typically a screwdriver or a drill.
Are both screws and rivets used for fastening?
Yes, but screws are removable, while rivets are more permanent.
Can "rivet" also be a verb?
Yes, e.g., "His story riveted the audience."
Is a rivet considered a permanent fastener?
Generally yes, removing a rivet often involves drilling it out.
Are screws always made of metal?
No, screws can be made of various materials including plastic.
Can screws be used in wood?
Yes, there are screws specifically designed for wood.
What's the main difference in installation of screws vs rivets?
Screws require rotation while rivets are set by driving or pressing.
Can the word "screw" be used as a verb?
Yes, e.g., "Screw the lid onto the jar."
How do screws hold pieces together?
Through the action of their threads gripping material.
Are rivets used in leatherwork?
Yes, rivets are often used to join pieces of leather.
What's a common tool for rivet installation?
A rivet gun.
Can the term "screw" have other meanings?
Yes, it can mean to manipulate or alter dishonestly, among others.
Are rivets only made of metal?
While traditionally made of metal, rivets can also be made of plastic or other materials.
Can "screw" imply a twisting action?
Yes, like "screw the cap onto the bottle."
Can both screws and rivets be used in metalwork?
Yes, both are used to join pieces of metal.
Is there a type of screw that doesn't require pre-drilled holes?
Yes, self-tapping screws can create their own hole as they're driven.
Are there different types of rivets?
Yes, including pop rivets, solid rivets, and more.
Are rivets used in aircraft construction?
Yes, rivets are commonly used in aircraft due to their strength and permanence.
Are rivets typically used where disassembly is needed?
No, they're used for more permanent joins.
In what scenarios are screws preferable over rivets?
In scenarios requiring potential adjustments or disassembly.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
