lithographer

American  

[li-thog-ruh-fer] / lɪˈθɒg rə fər /

noun

1. a person who works at lithography.

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Etymology

Origin of lithographer

First recorded in 1675–85; lithograph(y) + -er ¹

Explanation

A lithographer is a person who makes prints from designs created on flat stone or metal plates. A lithographer creates a design on a flat surface, which was traditionally limestone, but could also be metal. The design is applied using a greasy medium, like an oil-based crayon or ink. The surface is treated with chemicals so that when a roller of ink is passed over it, the ink adheres to the design only, not the blank parts. A piece of paper is pressed onto the inked surface to make a print. This printing process is called lithography, from the Greek words lithos, "stone," and graphos, "something drawn or written."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lithographer

At age 17, Homer was apprenticed to a Boston lithographer, where he practiced his draftsmanship and learned about composition, process and business.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 11, 2025

A painter of the late Victorian period from Camden Town in London, Smith began as a lithographer before switching to painting.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2024

McDermott was “a little lank fellow,” The Eagle wrote, and he worked during the week as a lithographer.

From New York Times ● Nov. 5, 2017

The company name comes from François-Charles Oberthur, a master printer and lithographer whose company in 1842 produced currencies and stock certificates.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 2, 2016

He suggests Vincent could be a lithographer, design letterheads.

From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman