manufacturer
Americannoun
-
a person, group, or company that owns or runs a manufacturing plant.
-
a person, group, or company that manufactures.
noun
Etymology
Origin of manufacturer
First recorded in 1710–20; manufacture + -er 1
Explanation
A manufacturer is a person or business that makes goods to sell. If you buy a shirt that has a "made in the USA" label, it means that the manufacturer of the shirt is in the United States. You can use the noun manufacturer for any company (or individual) that makes products, but it's most often used for things made on a very large scale, like cars, appliances, and computers. The word comes from manufacture, which as a noun originally meant "something made by hand," from the Latin roots manus, "hand," and factura, "a working."
Vocabulary lists containing manufacturer
"Ad Power," "Without Commercials," and "What's Wrong with Advertising"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for September 24–September 30, 2022
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Week 4 Vocabulary
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Micron Technology, a once boring semiconductor manufacturer, now boasts a gross margin of 75% and a valuation that just topped $1 trillion because data centers can’t get enough of its memory chips.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026
Samsung is also a major manufacturer of semiconductors, with Nvidia among its customers.
From BBC • May 27, 2026
The news came after the German government announced last week it planned to seek a substantial stake when the group launches its IPO as it tries to gain more influence over the arms manufacturer.
From Barron's • May 26, 2026
Rinker has lived in Stanton, near the aerospace manufacturer, for three decades and said she had never experienced anything like this.
From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2026
Oppenheimer was raised in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Manhattan, the son of an artist and a successful garment manufacturer.
From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell
![]()
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.