translator
Americannoun
-
translators
plural
-
Also translater a person who translates.
-
Television. a relay station that receives programming on one frequency and rebroadcasts it at another frequency for improved local reception.
noun
-
a person or machine that translates speech or writing
-
radio a relay transmitter that retransmits a signal on a carrier frequency different from that on which it was received
-
computing a computer program that converts a program from one language to another
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of translator
1350–1400; Middle English translatour (< Middle French ) < Late Latin translātor ( Latin: “one who transfers a thing”); see translate, -tor
Explanation
A translator is someone who conveys material communicated in one language such as English into another language — like French, Chinese, or Spanish — without losing the literal meaning or nuances of the original work. Ideally, a translator is fluent in at least two languages, so they can translate what is being said in one language into another language without changing its original meaning. The Latin root of translator is translatus, which means "carried over," and a translator who's good at her job carries the meaning over into a completely different language.
Vocabulary lists containing translator
Inside Out & Back Again
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 3
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Unit 19, Lesson 4
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
The former translator has been deeply impacted by AI.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026
It's the kind of idiom which can trip up an AI translator.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
Maybe you agree with translator Emily Wilson, who thinks Nolan’s movie “lacks psychological, emotional, political and ethical depth” and that its writing is “abysmal.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
“Everything is done to the highest order of perfection, and there is thought in every little detail,” the Chinese president said through a translator.
From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026
"My father worked with American soldiers in Afghanistan. He was a translator."
From "The Sky at Our Feet" by Nadia Hashimi
Human translators rely on A.I. tools; they have to, just to meet even a fraction of demand, Federici said.
From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026
The men, wearing grey tracksuits, stood in the dock of court five and spoke through translators only to confirm their name, date of birth and addresses.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026
Film critics and translators start work in the same place.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
France, Netherlands and the U.S. that were able to enter in the early days found themselves scrambling from neighborhood to neighborhood with no phone service or translators.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
But most people couldn’t afford that, and the translators had reputations for being fast-talkers.
From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
