calculator

American  

[kal-kyuh-lay-ter] / ˈkæl kjəˌleɪ tər /

noun

• calculators
  plural

1. a person who calculates or computes.

2. Also called calculating machine. a small electronic or mechanical device that performs calculations, requiring manual action for each individual operation.

3. a person who operates such a machine.

4. a set of tables that facilitates calculation.

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calculator British  

/ ˈkælkjʊˌleɪtə /

noun

1. a device for performing mathematical calculations, esp an electronic device that can be held in the hand

2. a person or thing that calculates

3. a set of tables used as an aid to calculations

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calculator Cultural  

1. An electronic device for performing automatic mathematical computations, usually controlled by a keyboard. Some are actually small computers, with limited memory, that allow the user to use simple programs.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• minicalculator
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• calculators
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of calculator

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin; see calculate, -tor

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

calculator calculators

"The kids are not learning their math facts because they're becoming calculator hooked," he proclaimed.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

In this case, the object of their ire was the calculator.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

Murali Annavaram, a professor of electrical and computer engineering, likened AI to a calculator.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026

He said he viewed it as a tool, much like a calculator to do math, and he isn’t a professional writer.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

He took out his calculator and got to work.

From "Orbiting Jupiter" by Gary D. Schmidt

Kids shouldn’t be on their phones while doing their homework—though they might argue they need them for calculators and other look-ups.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026

The school opted for a middle ground, purchasing 200 graphing calculators from French company NumWorks for its ninth-grade classes, with plans to create a schoolwide rollout over three years.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026

It’s not necessarily easy for entire school districts to shift to a new standard, given that teachers have been instructing using these calculators for years.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026

Several breast cancer risk calculators like Boadicea already exist and none are perfect.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

“Its calculators can be set to any combination, so many amino acids, so much sulphur, so much butterfat and alkaline. Right?”

From "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury

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