printer

noun

print·​er ˈprin-tər How to pronounce printer (audio)
: one that prints: such as
a
: a person engaged in printing
b
: a device used for printing
especially : a machine for printing from photographic negatives
c
: a device (such as an inkjet printer) that produces printouts

Examples of printer in a Sentence

I need a new printer for my office. Benjamin Franklin was originally a printer. The manuscript was sent to the printer yesterday.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
These industrial printers can build structures up to five stories tall. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2025 More recently, the ghost guns have evolved into weapons that can be made with nothing more than a 3D printer and a computer. Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 19 July 2025 While the paperless office remains a dream, the reality is that printers and copy machines are still buzzing away around the world. Tamsin Gable, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025 Some printers and refrigerators include chips in their cartridges or filters to prevent you from using less expensive alternatives, although there are sometimes ways to get around those restrictions. Larry Magid, Mercury News, 17 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for printer

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of printer was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Printer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/printer. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

printer

noun
print·​er ˈprint-ər How to pronounce printer (audio)
1
: a person whose business is printing
2
: a device used for printing or for making printouts

More from Merriam-Webster on printer

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