typewriter

noun

type·​writ·​er ˈtīp-ˌrī-tər How to pronounce typewriter (audio)
1
: a machine for writing in characters similar to those produced by printer's type by means of keyboard-operated types striking a ribbon to transfer ink or carbon impressions onto the paper
2
: typist

Examples of typewriter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Justin Cappos, a professor of computer science at New York University, who studies software supply-chain security, likens the attack to a typewriter hiding a second message in plain sight. Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 21 Mar. 2026 Our guy is just pecking away at his little typewriter or writing his memories in longhand. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026 Rumor has it that Danielle Steel uses a vintage typewriter, and James Joyce preferred writing in crayon. Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026 Every technological development – from the quill pen and the typewriter to the word processor – has brought with it changes in how humans express themselves. Gayle Rogers, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for typewriter

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of typewriter was in 1868

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Cite this Entry

“Typewriter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/typewriter. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

typewriter

noun
type·​writ·​er ˈtī-ˌprīt-ər How to pronounce typewriter (audio)
: a machine that prints letters or figures when a person pushes its keys down

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