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

2

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

Synonyms

• practitioner
• exponent

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

The session, which lasted over two hours, included only top diplomats and interpreters. —Hannah Parry amanda Castro shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025

Advertisement Their meeting was also attended by Trump’s then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Putin’s minister of foreign affairs Sergey Lavrov and two interpreters. —Brian Bennett, Time, 15 Aug. 2025

Her father, who spoke English well, was drafted into the Japanese army and eventually served as an interpreter for the Australian military. —Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 7 Aug. 2025

Speaking from Spain via an interpreter, the 27-year-old López, born deaf, describes discovering an unexpected destiny. —Michelle F. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing interpreter

• through an interpreter

Kids 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