adapter
Americannoun
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adapters
plural
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a person or thing that adapts.
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a connector for joining parts or devices having different sizes, designs, etc., enabling them to be fitted or to work together.
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Also called adapter plug. Also called plug adapter,. a device that connects an electrical plug to an outlet that has a different plug shape.
Last time I traveled, I brought the wrong adapter.
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Also called power adapter. Also called AC adapter,. a device with a cord that plugs into an electrical outlet and functions as an external power supply for a small or portable electronic device, usually converting AC current to DC.
I forgot to plug in the adapter, and my laptop died.
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an accessory to convert a machine, tool, or part to a new or modified use.
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Computers.
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an external device containing the necessary circuitry to connect to or work with another device or system.
a network adapter;
a wireless adapter;
a video adapter.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of adapter
Explanation
When you have two pieces of equipment that can't be connected directly, you may need an adapter to plug one into another. You might need an adapter to connect your cellphone to a computer. Computers, televisions, and cameras are just some of the devices that often require adapters to be charged or used in different ways. One common kind of adapter makes it possible to put a two-pronged plug into an outlet with three holes. A different way to use the word adapter is for a person who changes — or adapts — one work of art to fit in a different medium, like an adapter who writes an opera based on a comic book.
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:
A faulty adapter might blast 20 volts into a device expecting five volts, overwhelming its circuitry.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
"We call it the universal adapter," Schultheiß explains.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 27, 2026
He said he ran into the shop, where he saw an adapter charging system - full of chargers - under the counter and a small fire.
From BBC ● Mar. 10, 2026
The most practical option was an old-school corded phone and a cellular-to-landline adapter.
From Slate ● Jan. 27, 2026
A small refrigerator is plugged into an adapter that has six different electrical devices all feeding into one outlet.
From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan
These adapters still need some heft for thermal management.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
If not, adapters are available for less than £10.
From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2025
Mantle used adapters to fit various other lenses onto the phones, including a telescope.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2025
Whatever your opinions of that series — and there are plenty — it laid out the duo’s strengths as adapters and their weaknesses as creators of original material.
From New York Times ● Mar. 20, 2024
Either I must have grievously awakened the ire of all the "adapters" and their friends, or the drama must be decidedly bad.
From The Letters of Charles Dickens Vol. 3, 1836-1870 by Mamie Dickens
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.
