designer

American  

[dih-zahy-ner] / dɪˈzaɪ nər /

noun

1. a person who devises or executes designs, especially one who creates forms, structures, and patterns, as for works of art or machines.

2. a schemer, intriguer, or plotter.

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adjective

1. designed or created by or carrying a label or identification of a designer, especially a fashion designer, but often mass-produced.

   designer jeans.

2. created for intentional effect through chemical or genetic modification, as for a designer drug, or through crossbreeding, as for a designer dog.

designer British  

/ dɪˈzaɪnə /

noun

1. a person who devises and executes designs, as for works of art, clothes, machines, etc

2. (modifier) designed by and bearing the label or signature of a well-known fashion designer

   designer jeans

3. (modifier) (of things, ideas, etc) having an appearance of fashionable trendiness

   designer pop songs

   designer stubble

4. (modifier) (of cells, chemicals, etc) designed (or produced) to perform a specific function or combat a specific problem

   designer insecticide

5. (modifier) (of an animal) cross-bred for a specific purpose, such as looks, temperament, or likelihood of causing an allergy

   designer dogs

6. a person who devises plots or schemes; intriguer

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Other Word Forms

• self-designer noun

Etymology

Origin of designer

First recorded in 1640–50; design + -er ¹

Explanation

A designer is a person who plans how something will look. An architect is a designer of buildings, drawing detailed blueprints indicating what the structures should look like and how they should be built. The word designer came into English in the seventeenth century meaning "one who schemes." The word soon came to describe someone who figures out how something should look, especially something artistic. If you're reading a newspaper, a graphic designer planned how the text and images should look on each page. You might also be familiar with a fashion designer, someone who comes up with a vision for a garment and creates sketches to show what the finished product will look like.

Example Sentences

At Bettiscombe Manor, home of the British fashion designer Jasper Conran, a Queen Anne house is framed by drifts of scent-laden planting schemes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

Tory Burch won designer of the year, presented by her longtime friend Pamela Anderson.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

“As you enter, you’re greeted by a bright, open floor plan with designer finishes and attention to detail including custom built-ins adding extra storage and stunning exposed wooden beams that add character and warmth.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

The court heard Cassidy also spent £2,400 on a council tax bill; £2,200 on artificial grass at her business partner's home; £1,300 at designer tailors Forbes; and £800 at Glasgow's Corinthian's casino.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

“You could use your half to buy Chumley school supplies. You know: designer handbags. Shoes. Those big sunglasses that look like bug eyes. They have all sorts of discount designer items at the outlet stores.”

From "Shine!" by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein

Related Words

• architect
• author
• engineer
• fashion designer
• inventor
• maker
• planner
• producer