demonstrator

American  

[dem-uhn-stray-ter] / ˈdɛm ənˌstreɪ tər /

noun

• demonstrators
  plural

1. a person or thing that demonstrates.

2. Also a person who takes part in a public demonstration, as by marching or picketing.

3. a person who explains orteaches by practical demonstrations.

4. a person who exhibits the use and application of (a product, service, etc.) to a prospective customer.

5. the product, device, machine, etc., actually used in demonstrations to purchasers or prospective customers.

   They sold the demonstrator at half price.

---

demonstrator British  

/ ˈdɛmənˌstreɪtə /

noun

1. a person who demonstrates equipment, machines, products, etc

2. a person who takes part in a public demonstration

3. a piece of merchandise, such as a car that one test-drives, used to display merits or performance to prospective buyers

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• counterdemonstrator
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• demonstrators
  plural

Etymology

Origin of demonstrator

1605–15; < Latin dēmonstrātor, equivalent to dēmonstrā ( re ) ( see demonstrate) + -tor -tor

Explanation

If you participate in a political protest, you are a demonstrator. Demonstrate means to show, and by dint of your presence, you are showing that you agree with the protest message. Demonstrator can also mean someone who demonstrates how something works. Electrolux vacuums were sold by door-to-door salespeople who were also demonstrators––they put horrible messes down on the rug to demonstrate their vacuum's power.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

demonstrator demonstrators

The technology demonstrator will borrow engines from the existing Typhoon and fly sometime in 2028.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

Air Force to build its prototype, and is backed by Northrop Grumman and RTX, which is providing Pratt & Whitney engines for the first demonstrator.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

We want to fly, at the end of this year, an X-Wing demonstrator, which will take off from the Cazaux airbase in the south of France.

From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026

The results from the first demonstrator have already shaped the team's plans for the next version of PLATON.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 17, 2026

A young demonstrator with “VOTE” stenciled on his forehead in white paint.

From "Because They Marched" by Russell Freedman

The New York Police Department faced more criticism after video footage began circulating Thursday night showing officers knocking anti-ICE demonstrators to the ground.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

In Marseille, thousands of demonstrators moved around this city, stopping momentarily to chant before moving on as police changed direction.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

In the aftermath of the article, demonstrators from both sides of the issue gathered outside of Fever games, while Cunningham sometimes was booed in by opposing crowds.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

Hundreds of demonstrators had gathered outside Congress as the debate took place and there were angry scenes.

From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026

After singing and praying in front of City Hall, the demonstrators broke up into small groups and entered several segregated downtown businesses.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

Related Words

• marcher
• radical
• rioter
• striker