setter

noun

set·​ter ˈse-tər 

1

: one that sets

2

: a large bird dog (such as an Irish setter) of a type trained to point on finding game

Examples of setter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ellis was a culture setter and one of the team’s beloved players, despite limited playing time. —Lebron Antonio Hill, Sacbee.com, 3 Feb. 2026

Drury clearly viewed him as a culture setter and named him captain heading into 2025 training camp. —Peter Baugh, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026

In Australia, Carlos Alcaraz overcame cramps and injury to fend off Alexander Zverev in an epic, momentum-swinging five-setter Friday to become the youngest man in the Open era to reach the finals of all four Grand Slam events. —Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 30 Jan. 2026

Alcaraz also had to come through a grueling five-setter. —John Pye, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing setter

• English setter
• Gordon setter
• Irish setter
• tone-setter
• trend-setter

Rhymes for setter

• better
• bettor
• debtor
• fetter
• getter
• letter
• netter
• petar
• petter
• rhetor
• sweater
• tetter

Kids Definition

setter

noun

set·​ter ˈset-ər 

1

: someone or something that sets

2

: a large long-coated dog (as an Irish setter) used in hunting birds that is trained to point on finding game