printer

noun

print·​er ˈprin-tər How to pronounce printer (audio)
: one that prints: such as
a
: a person engaged in printing
b
: a device used for printing
especially : a machine for printing from photographic negatives
c
: a device (such as an inkjet printer) that produces printouts

Examples of printer in a Sentence

I need a new printer for my office. Benjamin Franklin was originally a printer. The manuscript was sent to the printer yesterday.
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.
Her subjects swing from making ASMR content out of printer sounds to earnestly explaining the various coil sizes for book binding. Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 2 Mar. 2026 Jacob Reyes allegedly had two working 3D weapon printers and 27 finished or almost finished guns in his room in San Jose, California. Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026 All firearms were seized by law enforcement, including one handgun that had not been produced using the printers. Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2026 The fine details on their birdhouses are made using different tools available to them at Dallas Makerspace, including 3D printers and lasers. Dallas Morning News, 23 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for printer

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Printer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/printer. Accessed 8 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

printer

noun
print·​er ˈprint-ər How to pronounce printer (audio)
1
: a person whose business is printing
2
: a device used for printing or for making printouts

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