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.

---

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

---

Other Word Forms

• self-designer noun

Etymology

Origin of designer

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

Example Sentences

Waiting in my seat: Saks Fifth Avenue bedding, including two pillows, a comforter and a blanket, headphones, bottled water and an amenity kit with designer skin care from Perricone MD.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Wanting a garden that was easy to use and colorful year-round, Smee contacted landscape designer Guillaume Lemoine of Picture This Land to help design a formal French garden using California native plants.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

Wars don’t tend to drive up demand for designer handbags and Swiss watches—but a long-anticipated rebound for luxury stocks remains on track.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

The first Paisley Arts Festival has launched with a celebration of late Scottish fashion designer Pam Hogg who died last November.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

They were wearing the uniform of the Lagos youngish and wealthyish—leather slippers, jeans and open-neck tight shirts, all with familiar designer logos—but there was, in their manner, the plowing eagerness of men in need.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Related Words

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