dispenser

American  

[dih-spen-ser] / dɪˈspɛn sər /

noun

1. a person or thing that dispenses.

2. a container, package, device, or vending machine for holding and dispensing something in small amounts, as facial tissue, paper cups, or candy.

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dispenser British  

/ dɪˈspɛnsə /

noun

1. a device, such as a vending machine, that automatically dispenses a single item or a measured quantity

2. a person or thing that dispenses

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Etymology

Origin of dispenser

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; dispense, -er ¹

Compare meaning

How does dispenser compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• dropper vs. dispenser

Example Sentences

I pull a paper towel from the dispenser and run it under some cold water.

From Literature

"These jugs can be stored improperly, and dispensers aren't cleaned regularly, and we think this can create ideal conditions for bacteria to grow."

From Science Daily

More than 80% of sales come from business-to-business distributors, which is helped by some 20 million soap and sanitizer dispensers that help drive recurring sales.

From The Wall Street Journal

There’s that awful school pink liquid hand soap in the dispenser—but it smells craaaazy strong and somehow “institutional.”

From Literature

First, I saw that someone had stolen the shampoo dispenser.

From Los Angeles Times

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