amplifier

American  

[am-pluh-fahy-er] / ˈæm pləˌfaɪ ər /

noun

1. a person or thing that amplifies or enlarges.

2. an electronic component or circuit for amplifying power, current, or voltage.

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amplifier British  

/ ˈæmplɪˌfaɪə /

noun

1. an electronic device used to increase the strength of the signal fed into it

2. such a device used for the amplification of audio frequency signals in a radio, etc

3. photog an additional lens for altering the focal length of a camera lens

4. a person or thing that amplifies

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amplifier Cultural  

1. In electronics, a device that takes a small electric signal and converts it into a large one. Amplifiers are used in stereo systems, electric guitars, and loudspeakers.

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Etymology

Origin of amplifier

First recorded in 1540–50; amplify + -er ¹

Compare meaning

How does amplifier compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• preamplifier vs. amplifier

Example Sentences

What made that possible was a “pickup,” essentially a magnet mounted under the strings that turned vibrations into an electric current that connects to an amplifier.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 14, 2026

He learned to beatmatch by plugging a player into each side of his amplifier and using the balance knob to fade between them.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 17, 2025

For many people with chronic pain, the metaphors that scientists use—like the amplifier, making a whisper sound like a scream—don’t tell the whole story.

From Slate • Sep. 15, 2025

He persuaded his dad to buy him a microphone and an amplifier and, together with a friend Terry 'Geezer' Butler, formed a band called Rare Breed - which lasted for just two performances.

From BBC • Jul. 22, 2025

The principal was without the help of a voice amplifier.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane