Is there a difference between an implement and an instrument?
Or are they interchangeable in the following?
: optical instrument, agricultural implement, sharp implements,

More examples would be appreciated.

Question

Is there a difference between an implement and an instrument?
Or are they interchangeable in the following?
: optical instrument, agricultural implement, sharp implements,

More examples would be appreciated.

Answer

Not much difference.  Instrument is much more common.  I don't hear people say implement very often.  Also, to me an implement implies something large like a piece of machinery.  An I think of instruments as something small that is used by the hands of a person.