stenographer
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of stenographer
An Americanism dating back to 1790–1800; stenograph + -er 1
Explanation
A stenographer is someone who types what people say. You have to listen carefully and type very fast to be a stenographer. On TV shows, you may have noticed someone typing everything the judge, lawyers, and witnesses say in a courtroom. That's the stenographer. To be a stenographer, you have to type or write quickly and be skilled at shorthand. The act of taking dictation is referred to as stenography. Like a photographer captures images, a stenographer captures words.
Vocabulary lists containing stenographer
Flowers for Algernon
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Occupations
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Richard Nixon's "Checkers" Speech (1952)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
We go from an investigative powerhouse to a stenographer for the state,” the correspondent wrote.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 23, 2025
Rather, it belonged to a woman from Illinois with a versatile résumé that included writing, acting, engineering and working as a stenographer: Lizzie Magie.
From New York Times • Apr. 12, 2024
She worked as a stenographer for pay-as-you-go lessons.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 6, 2024
West also worries the increased record-keeping during the inquiry stage—including bringing in a stenographer to record testimony and labeling all evidence—could deter anyone coming forward with a complaint.
From Science Magazine • Nov. 28, 2023
“Nadezhda Petrovna,” he called out to his stenographer.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
