inventor

noun

in·​ven·​tor
variants or less commonly inventer
ə̇nˈventə(r)
plural -s
Synonyms of inventornext
1
obsolete : one that finds or finds out : discoverer
first inventor of the nervous systemJohn Freind
2
: one that conceives by creative imagination
inventor of a new ballet
one must be an inventor to read wellS. P. Sherman
the next step is to discover what makes a man an inventor rather than a passive culture carrierRalph Linton
3
: one that creates a new device or process : originator
Eli Whitney was the inventor of the cotton gin

Word History

Etymology

inventor from Latin, from inventus (past participle of invenire) + -or; inventer alteration (influenced by English -er entry 2) of inventor

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Cite this Entry

“Inventor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inventor. Accessed 15 Dec. 2025.

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