reader

American  

[ree-der] / ˈri dər /

noun

• readers
  plural

1. a person who reads.

2. a schoolbook for instruction and practice in reading.

   a second-grade reader.

3. a book of collected or assorted writings, especially when related in theme, authorship, or instructive purpose; anthology.

   a Hemingway reader; a sci-fi reader.

4. a person employed to read and evaluate manuscripts offered for publication.

5. a proofreader.

6. a person who reads or recites before an audience; elocutionist.

7. a person authorized to read the lessons, Bible, etc., in a church service.

8. a lecturer or instructor, especially in some British universities.

   to be appointed reader in English history.

9. an assistant to a professor, who grades examinations, papers, etc.

10. Computers. a device that reads data, programs, or control information from an external storage medium for transmission to main storage.

11. a machine or device that projects or enlarges a microform image on a screen or other surface for reading.

12. a playing card marked on its back so that the suit or denomination of the card can be identified.

13. Library Science. the user of a library; library patron.

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reader British  

/ ˈriːdə /

noun

1. a person who reads

2. a person who is fond of reading

3. 1. at a university, a member of staff having a position between that of a senior lecturer and a professor

   2. a teaching assistant in a faculty who grades papers, examinations, etc, on behalf of a professor

4. 1. a book that is part of a planned series for those learning to read

   2. a standard textbook, esp for foreign-language learning

5. a person who reads aloud in public

6. a person who reads and assesses the merit of manuscripts submitted to a publisher

7. a person employed to read proofs and indicate errors by comparison with the original copy; proofreader

8. short for lay reader

9. Judaism another word for cantor

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonreader
  noun
• subreader
  noun
• underreader
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• readers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of reader

before 1000; Middle English reder ( e ), redar ( e ), Old English rǣdere. See read ¹, -er ¹

Explanation

A person who reads, whether they love to read or simply are able to read, is a reader. If you're a fan of a particular author, you're also one of her readers. If you write children's books, you need to keep your readers in mind as you tackle difficult topics or use complicated language. Your readers are all the kids who will be reading the words you write. Another type of reader checks manuscripts for typos, or decides if they're good enough to be published as a book or in a magazine. Students who are learning to read sometimes use a book called a reader for practicing reading skills.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

reader readers

This is the place where you, gentle reader, remind me that I said the Dodgers executed their game plan.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026

That’s because you’ve got debate fever, suffering reader.

From Slate ● Oct. 10, 2026

By then, the reader feels, it may have been a little too late for his son.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

A 35-year-old reader of my newsletter asked me an unusual question this week: “Should I start buying Treasurys?”

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026

And, reader, do you think I feared him in his blind ferocity?—if you do, you little know me.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

We’re continuing to report on heat impacts and would love to hear from readers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026

On X, Kundizeza said he was heartened by "the numerous messages of solidarity from fellow writers and readers", ending his message by saying: "Most importantly, I will continue to write."

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

She offers a tour of her favorite boglands from across the globe, guiding readers through the intricate science of these ecosystems and helping us understand the resilience of the plant, animal and human life there.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

Additionally, readers should note that historical net-worth estimates are often debated due to differences in record-keeping and varying valuation methods.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026

In the beginning his readers came from EarthLink and AOL.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis