interpreter
noun
in·ter·pret·er
in-ˈtər-prə-tər 
-pə-
plural interpreters
1
: someone or something that interprets: such as
a
: someone who translates for individuals or groups conversing in different languages
an interpreter at the United Nations
a sign language interpreter
b
: someone who explains or expounds
Aside from his Nobel Prize-winning work on quantum electrodynamics (don't ask), [Richard P.] Feynman was an interpreter of Maya hieroglyphics …—
Pam Freir
Pam Freir2
a
: a machine that prints on punch cards the symbols recorded in them by perforations
b
: a computer program that executes each of a set of high-level instructions before going to the next instruction
Examples of interpreter in a Sentence
He has now learned English well enough that he can conduct interviews without an interpreter.
Monet is generally regarded as the foremost interpreter of pure impressionism.
Recent Examples on the Web
These women are astrologers of the soul, dream interpreters, survivors, truth-tellers.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 13 Nov. 2025
Sebert disputed that, saying the district had 12 Spanish-language website materials, seven community information sessions with a live interpreter, two Spanish-language community input gathering sessions, and seven parent emails provided in both English and Spanish.
—Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 13 Nov. 2025
An interpreter translated his responses from Spanish to English for the jury.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2025
At Rokeby, museum interpreters explain how the Robinson's ancestors had become wealthy in part due to the slave trade, but were abolitionists in later generations.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for interpreter
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Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 13 Nov. 2025
Sebert disputed that, saying the district had 12 Spanish-language website materials, seven community information sessions with a live interpreter, two Spanish-language community input gathering sessions, and seven parent emails provided in both English and Spanish.
—Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 13 Nov. 2025
An interpreter translated his responses from Spanish to English for the jury.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2025
At Rokeby, museum interpreters explain how the Robinson's ancestors had become wealthy in part due to the slave trade, but were abolitionists in later generations.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for interpreter
Cite this Entry
“Interpreter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interpreter. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
interpreter
noun
in·ter·pret·er
in-ˈtər-prət-ər
1
: one that interprets
especially
: a person who translates orally for people speaking different languages
2
: a computer program that translates an instruction into machine language and executes it before going to the next instruction
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