reader

American  

[ree-der] / ˈri dər /

noun

• readers
  plural

1. a person who reads.

2. a schoolbook for instruction and practice in reading.

   a second-grade reader.

3. a book of collected or assorted writings, especially when related in theme, authorship, or instructive purpose; anthology.

   a Hemingway reader; a sci-fi reader.

4. a person employed to read and evaluate manuscripts offered for publication.

5. a proofreader.

6. a person who reads or recites before an audience; elocutionist.

7. a person authorized to read the lessons, Bible, etc., in a church service.

8. a lecturer or instructor, especially in some British universities.

   to be appointed reader in English history.

9. an assistant to a professor, who grades examinations, papers, etc.

10. Computers. a device that reads data, programs, or control information from an external storage medium for transmission to main storage.

11. a machine or device that projects or enlarges a microform image on a screen or other surface for reading.

12. a playing card marked on its back so that the suit or denomination of the card can be identified.

13. Library Science. the user of a library; library patron.

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reader British  

/ ˈriːdə /

noun

1. a person who reads

2. a person who is fond of reading

3. 1. at a university, a member of staff having a position between that of a senior lecturer and a professor

   2. a teaching assistant in a faculty who grades papers, examinations, etc, on behalf of a professor

4. 1. a book that is part of a planned series for those learning to read

   2. a standard textbook, esp for foreign-language learning

5. a person who reads aloud in public

6. a person who reads and assesses the merit of manuscripts submitted to a publisher

7. a person employed to read proofs and indicate errors by comparison with the original copy; proofreader

8. short for lay reader

9. Judaism another word for cantor

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonreader
  noun
• subreader
  noun
• underreader
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• readers
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of reader

before 1000; Middle English reder ( e ), redar ( e ), Old English rǣdere. See read ¹, -er ¹

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Explanation

A person who reads, whether they love to read or simply are able to read, is a reader. If you're a fan of a particular author, you're also one of her readers. If you write children's books, you need to keep your readers in mind as you tackle difficult topics or use complicated language. Your readers are all the kids who will be reading the words you write. Another type of reader checks manuscripts for typos, or decides if they're good enough to be published as a book or in a magazine. Students who are learning to read sometimes use a book called a reader for practicing reading skills.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

reader readers

A reader has $2 million saved and a retirement wish list: a beach property and lots of international trips.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 13, 2026

As eagle-eyed reader David Moore of Canfield, Ohio, noted of my three-day road trip, “Looks like it took an extra three hours for the total drive due to charging.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 12, 2026

The other big reader objection: My EV road trip cost as much as the gas equivalent.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 12, 2026

He added: "I've passed on to the reader some of the puzzlement and confusion of the characters in the book as they face a future with the alien."

From BBC ● Nov. 9, 2026

Dear reader, you have to understand the point of all these stories.

From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri

Ms. Cockayne, a scholar of material history, leads readers through early modern England’s sewage-filled streets and smoke-choked homes, often through the descriptions of those who lived there.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2026

My annual pilgrimage to the City prelims or finals always leads me to discover a story for readers to enjoy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 13, 2026

This was the last appointment I witnessed, and it reinforced something I’ve recommended to readers for years: When it comes to Medicare’s annual election period, preparation matters.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 12, 2026

Surrey County Council said that demand for Walliams' books had "fallen significantly in recent years", but his titles are "not illegal" and "remain available for readers to borrow".

From BBC ● Nov. 12, 2026

In France, readers took the side of thieves.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day

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