driver

American  

[drahy-ver] / ˈdraɪ vər /

noun

1. a person or thing that drives.

2. a person who drives a vehicle; coachman, chauffeur, etc.

3. a person who drives an animal or animals, as a drover or cowboy.

4. Also called number one wood.  Golf. a club with a wooden head whose face has almost no slope, for hitting long, low drives from the tee.

5. Machinery.

   1. a part that transmits force or motion.

   2. the member of a pair of connected pulleys, gears, etc., that is nearer to the power source.

6. Computers. software or hardware that controls the interface between a computer and a peripheral device.

7. Railroads. driving wheel.

8. British. a locomotive engineer.

9. Audio.

   1. the part of a loudspeaker that transforms the electrical signal into sound.

   2. the entire loudspeaker.

10. Nautical.

    1. a jib-headed spanker sail.

    2. a designation given to one of the masts abaft the mizzen on a sailing vessel having more than three masts, either the fifth or sixth from forward.

---

driver British  

/ ˈdraɪvə /

noun

1. a person who drives a vehicle

2. in a position of control

3. a person who drives animals

4. a mechanical component that exerts a force on another to produce motion

5. golf a club, a No. 1 wood, with a large head and deep face for tee shots

6. electronics a circuit whose output provides the input of another circuit

7. computing a computer program that controls a device

8. something that creates and fuels activity, or gives force or impetus

---

driver Idioms  

1. see backseat driver; in the driver's seat.

---

Other Word Forms

• driverless
  adjective
• nondriver
  noun

Etymology

Origin of driver

First recorded in 1350–1400, driver is from the Middle English word drivere. See drive, -er ¹

Example Sentences

Another one I’ve got my eyes on is Gray’s “Paper Tiger,” a Russian mafia movie with Adam Driver, Johansson and Miles Teller.

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026

Despite being in the Williams Driver Academy, he was expected to cover part of the costs himself.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

Driver Alexander Rossi, a two-time Grand Prix winner, and former Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster will be honored, free to attend.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

Driver Andriy, 53, is one of the first Ukrainian faces many of the freed soldiers see as they clamber onto his bus.

From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026

Driver ants, Ebola virus, acquired immune deficiency syndrome: all these are brooms devised by nature to sweep a small clearing very well.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Related Words

• chauffeur
• jockey
• motorist
• operator
• trainer