dispatcher

American  

[dih-spach-er] / dɪˈspætʃ ər /

noun

1. a person who dispatches.

2. a person who oversees the departure of trains, airplanes, buses, etc., as for a transportation company or railroad.

3. Slang. dispatchers, a fraudulently made pair of dice; loaded dice.

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Other Word Forms

• predispatcher noun

Etymology

Origin of dispatcher

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

Explanation

A dispatcher is someone whose work involves receiving messages and organizing the movement of ambulances and other vehicles. Being a dispatcher requires excellent communication skills in a high-pressure environment. An emergency dispatcher's work day might include getting phone calls from people who need medical assistance or the help of firefighters. A taxi dispatcher, on the other hand, communicates with each cab driver about where to pick up passengers who've called for rides. To dispatch is to send something off quickly, and for most dispatchers, their job is dispatching vehicles.

Example Sentences

“My father has been illegally detained,” he told the dispatcher nervously, stumbling over his words.

From Salon • Mar. 24, 2026

Commuting has become so popular as of late that it’s common to hear a dispatcher request that listeners “please leave the call if you are not actively commuting.”

From Slate • Jan. 23, 2026

He lives upstate and works as a dispatcher for a cable company.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

She pauses to listen more intently as a dispatcher relays information about a person who thinks they’re being followed by a federal agent.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 25, 2025

“But the dispatcher said—” “We have to get to the hospital,” he interrupted.

From "Schooled" by Gordon Korman

Related Words

• courier
• emissary
• go-between
• mediator
• prophet