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

For political wives, the inauguration coat is an agenda-setter – the first statement on how someone who may or may not have aspired to be a public symbol will navigate the always-tricky, often exasperating act of using clothes to elucidate or complement her husband’s administration. —Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 2 Jan. 2026

Government has a role to play — as a setter of environmental standards, for example — but shouldn’t be picking winners and losers. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026

Tracking killings and assaults against journalists Worldwide, the 126 media industry people killed in 2025 by early December matched the number of deaths in all of 2024, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, and last year was a record-setter. —David Bauder, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2025

On the edge, Anfernee Jennings turned in a vintage performance as an edge-setter. —Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 30 Dec. 2025

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