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coder

American  
[koh-der] / ˈkoʊ dər /

noun

  1. a person or device that translates information into a code.

  2. a person who assigns codes to objects or data.

    Medical coders assign standard codes to medical services so that insurance companies can pay claims.

  3. Computers. a person who writes computer code; a programmer.


coder British  
/ ˈkəʊdə /

noun

  1. a person or thing that codes

  2. electronics a device for transforming normal signals into a coded form

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of coder

First recorded in 1925–30; code ( def. ) + -er 1 ( def. )

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.

At first, the company used an outside coder, but back-and-forth requests were a hassle.

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

It’s got its own developer suite that works fine for lay users and that some coder friends have told me is just as serious as Claude Code.

From Slate • Feb. 10, 2026

A few years ago, a California cryptocurrency developer hired a freelance coder remotely for a project.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 25, 2025

The $216,000 paid in cryptocurrency was supposed to go to the coder in Singapore.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 25, 2025

I’m a coder; I love everything to do with coding and technology.

From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon

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