starter

1 of 2

noun

start·​er ˈstär-tər 

1

: a person who initiates or sets going: such as

a

: an official who gives the signal to begin a race

b

: one who dispatches vehicles

2

a

: one that engages in a competition

especially : a member of a starting lineup

b

: one that begins to engage in an activity or process

3

: one that causes something to begin operating: such as

a

: a device for starting an engine

especially : an electric motor used to start an internal combustion engine

b

: material containing microorganisms (such as yeast) used to induce a desired fermentation

4

: something that is the beginning of a process, activity, or series

especially : appetizer

see also:

for starters

starter

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or being an item acquired with the expectation that a more elaborate or sophisticated model will be acquired in the future

a starter home

Examples of starter in a Sentence

Noun

The team is playing only five regular starters.

The car's starter needs to be replaced.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

That’s also why Sirianni does not play his starters in the preseason. — Zach Berman, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026

Senga, once billed as the staff ace, has been downright dismal this season as a starter. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026

Adjective

That does open other opportunities for guys, like today’s starter Hunter Dobbins, to get evaluated further. — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026

But those hopes haven’t panned out as hoped and the team was forced to make some relief trades before the deadline and search for a potential back-end starter upgrade. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1622, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1923, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing starter

• kick-starter
• self-starter
• starter home/house
• starter kit

Rhymes for starter

• arter
• barter
• charter
• darter
• garter
• martyr
• smarter
• tartar

Kids Definition

starter

noun

start·​er

ˈstärt-ər

: someone or something that starts something or causes something else to start

the starter of a motor