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

In Little Rock, former Police Chief Heath Helton, who stepped down in May, was a strong advocate for using technology like license plate reader cameras to support the department's operations. — Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 13 Aug. 2026

Our readers from all around the world may not be familiar with the peculiarities of British politics or your political platform. — Richard Hall, Time, 12 Aug. 2026

Publishing expert Jane Friedman now writes (paywall) that the authors sustaining success are precisely those reducing their reliance on Amazon and Ingram to serve readers directly. — Jd Barker, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Despite greater awareness and more available services, too many children, especially in their earliest years, still lack the support needed to become confident readers. — Jose Cruz, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Aug. 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