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.

---

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

---

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

Not everyone can keep working, even if some — like this reader — intend to do so well into their 70s.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026

In only a few years, the surveillance start-up Flock has installed more than 100,000 license plate reader cameras across the United States.

From Barron's ● Aug. 9, 2026

With digital cameras offering an element of surprise when you plug in the memory card reader to your computer at home, digital cameras capture a moment in time.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

Her first year on the job saw the founding of Goodreads, the user-generated review platform that would go on to permanently shift the balance of power between author and reader.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

Dear reader, you have to understand the point of all these stories.

From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri

To trace the breadcrumbs of this tragedy, readers need critical context.

From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026

Her sentiment echoed nearly 200 responses to a callout asking readers what Jackie meant to them.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

Unwilling to join the voyeuristic crowd, Ms. Sampson urges readers to understand Sand’s socially transgressive behaviors in a less sensational context.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

We wanted to find people who are bucking the trend, so we asked readers to nominate the neighbors who make their corners of Southern California feel like home.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

In fact, I would venture to say that no argument in the book has resonated more with readers than this one.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell