recorder

noun

re·​cord·​er ri-ˈkȯr-dər How to pronounce recorder (audio)
1
a
: the chief judicial magistrate of some British cities and boroughs
b
: a municipal judge with criminal jurisdiction of first instance and sometimes limited civil jurisdiction
2
: one that records
3
: any of a group of wind instruments ranging from soprano to bass that are characterized by a conical tube, a whistle mouthpiece, and eight finger holes

Illustration of recorder

Illustration of recorder
  • recorder 3

Examples of recorder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The company first began selling digital video recorders in 1999, generating major waves in the home entertainment space. Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025 The change would make the at-large races function more similarly to the races for mayor or clerk and recorder, both of which are citywide and require a majority vote, with a runoff if necessary. Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 14 Oct. 2025 The team also installed tissue box-size recorders across southern Indiana to capture about 100,000 bird vocalizations before, during and after totality, or the moments when the moon entirely blocked the light of the sun. Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2025 Simpson—a photographer, a jewelry designer, and a writer—is, at base, a recorder of fashion. Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for recorder

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of recorder was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Recorder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recorder. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

recorder

noun
re·​cord·​er ri-ˈkȯrd-ər How to pronounce recorder (audio)
1
: a person or device that records
2
: a musical instrument consisting of a usually wooden tube with finger holes and a whistle mouthpiece

Legal Definition

recorder

noun
re·​cord·​er
1
: a judge of a municipal court
2
: a public officer charged with making a record of writings or transactions (as conveyances)
a recorder of deeds
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