noun
-
a person who reports, esp one employed to gather news for a newspaper, news agency, or broadcasting organization
-
a person, esp a barrister, authorized to write official accounts of judicial proceedings
-
a person authorized to report the proceedings of a legislature
-
social welfare an official who arranges and conducts children's panel hearings and who may investigate cases and decide on the action to be taken
Etymology
Origin of reporter
1350–1400; Middle English reportour < Anglo-French ( Old French reporteur ). See report, -er 1
Explanation
A reporter is a journalist who goes out and gets the scoop on the news and informs the rest of us. If there’s a news conference or a train crash, a reporter is probably there getting the lowdown. If you want to be a reporter one day, you might study journalism in college, learning to write accurate and informative stories. Many reporters research, write, and edit articles about politics or current events, but you could also be a pop culture reporter or a tech reporter. The newspaper sense of reporter dates from 1798 — earlier it simply meant "one who gives an account."
Vocabulary lists containing reporter
Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -er, -or
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!
Journalism Jargon
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!
"Seeking Freedom"
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.
No evidence was submitted and the report states that no action was taken after officials contacted the reporter to discuss further, but could not reach them.
From BBC • Jun. 15, 2026
But when a female BBC reporter set up an account with a verified photo, she was able to use a male colleague's bank account details to receive test payments.
From BBC • Jun. 15, 2026
To investigate their effects, the team used an advanced genomic method called a "massively parallel reporter assay."
From Science Daily • Jun. 14, 2026
The digital recording system used as a backup to the official court reporter produced a transcript the defense said was too flawed to be of much use.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026
Henry Jencken told a reporter of holding bright-eyed Ferdie in early morning darkness.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
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.
