calculator

noun

cal·​cu·​la·​tor ˈkal-kyə-ˌlā-tər 

: one that calculates: such as

a

: a usually electronic device for performing mathematical calculations

b

: a person who operates a calculator

Examples of calculator in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The shift now is from tools that wait to be told what to do toward agents that decide and act, the difference between a calculator and a junior colleague. —Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026

Electricity replaced whale oil; automobiles supplanted horses; calculators replaced slide rules; and then spreadsheets replaced calculators. —Jessica Melugin, Mercury News, 10 June 2026

That’s because there’s a lot of fine print the calculator doesn’t take into account, like how the DeSantis plan to roll back property taxes may ruin city and county budgets. —Miami Herald Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 8 June 2026

Tap on the calculator icon in the top right corner. —Cody Godwin, USA Today, 4 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English calkelatour "one who counts or computes, mathematician," borrowed from Latin calculātōr-, calculātor "teacher of arithmetic," from calculā- (attested in Late Latin as the stem of calculāre "to count, calculate") + -tōr-, -tor, agent suffix

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing calculator

• pocket calculator

Rhymes for calculator

• activator
• actuator
• agitator
• alligator
• allocator
• alternator
• animator
• annotator
• applicator
• arbitrator
• aspirator
• aviator

Kids Definition

calculator

noun

cal·​cu·​la·​tor ˈkal-kyə-ˌlāt-ər 

1

: one that calculates

2

: a usually small electronic device for making mathematical calculations