defroster

noun

de·​frost·​er di-ˈfrȯ-stər 

ˈdē-ˌfrȯ-

plural defrosters

: a person or thing that defrosts something

She was a cook. I was an opener of cans, a defroster of TV dinners.

—Bernie Schiffer

especially : a device or system designed to heat a window or windshield of a vehicle for the purpose of removing accumulated ice or moisture

The rear window defroster worked well in the center, but it needs more grid lines for full coverage.

—Consumer Reports

Their breath fogged the windshield immediately, and Gus slowed to a crawl on the winding street, reaching down to adjust the wipers and the defroster.

—Frank Conroy

Examples of defroster in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Instead, warm up your car and turn on its defrosters. —Charles Singh, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026

Allowing the defroster to run for several minutes before removing ice makes the process safer and more effective, according to AAA Texas. —Dallas Morning News, 27 Jan. 2026

Ensure that the heater and defroster work properly. —Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Jan. 2026

While your defrosters are doing their job, use a soft brush to brush off any snow on your car and windshield. —Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 27 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for defroster

• exhauster
• imposter
• impostor
• coster
• roster
• zoster