plural readers
1
: a person who reads a book, magazine, newspaper, etc.
The book's ending leaves readers to draw their own conclusions.
She's a fast/slow/avid/voracious reader.
He's not much of a reader. [=he doesn't enjoy reading books, magazines, etc.]
a magazine with three million readers
—often + ofa reader of science fiction
regular readers of the newspaper
2
: a machine that is used for reading text or information that is stored on film, tape, etc.
a microfilm reader
a card reader
3
: a book that is used to learn how to read or to practice reading in your own language or in a foreign language
a first-grade reader
4
or Reader British
: a teacher at a university who ranks just below a professor
Cite this Entry
“Reader.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/reader. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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