reader

noun

read·​er ˈrē-dər 

1

a

: one that reads

a magazine with three million readers

b

: one appointed to read to others: such as

(1)

: lector

(2)

: one chosen to read aloud selected material in a Christian Science church or society

c(1)

: proofreader

(2)

: one who evaluates manuscripts

(3)

: one who reads periodical literature to discover items of special interest or value

d

: an employee who reads and records the indications of meters

e

: a teacher's assistant who reads and marks student papers

2

British : one who reads lectures or expounds subjects to students

3

a

: a device for projecting a readable image of a transparency

b

: an electronic device that can display text (as that of a book or magazine)

c

: an electronic device that scans coded information (as on credit cards or bar codes) for storage or computation

4

a

: a book for instruction and practice especially in reading

b

: anthology

5

readers plural : eyeglasses used for reading or close work : reading glasses

Gilda came back with a pair of readers and, looking through her glasses, gave my eyelids serious consideration.

—Jeanne Ray

Synonyms of reader

• compilation
• anthology

Examples of reader in a Sentence

The book's ending leaves readers to draw their own conclusions.

a magazine with three million readers

Recent Examples on the Web

The book cracked open a world of storytelling for countless students, readers, and writers ,like me. —Literary Hub, 16 Jan. 2026

Include the name of the group, date and time of event, address, cost and contact information for readers within the email text. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Jan. 2026

Proceed with caution, faithful readers… The die is cast — the traitors and faithfuls have been chosen, and their clothes are doing the slaying (all puns intended). —Jamie Allison Sanders, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026

From the Amazon Kindle for avid readers to Beats headphones for tuning out plane noise, these are the items that make travel days smoother and more enjoyable. —Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 15 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing reader

• e-reader
• lay reader
• mind reader

Rhymes for reader

• bleeder
• breeder
• feeder
• leader
• lieder
• meader
• pleader
• reeder
• seeder
• weeder
• cheerleader
• proofreader

Kids Definition

reader

noun

read·​er ˈrēd-ər 

1

: a person who reads

2

a

: a device that makes a readable image

a microfilm reader

b

: a machine for acquiring data (as for a computer)

a card reader

3

: a book for learning or practicing reading