demonstrator

American  

[dem-uhn-strey-ter] / ˈdɛm ənˌstreɪ tər /

noun

demonstrators plural

1. a person or thing that demonstrates.

2. Also a person who takes part in a public demonstration, as by marching or picketing.

3. a person who explains orteaches by practical demonstrations.

4. a person who exhibits the use and application of (a product, service, etc.) to a prospective customer.

5. the product, device, machine, etc., actually used in demonstrations to purchasers or prospective customers.

   They sold the demonstrator at half price.

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demonstrator British  

/ ˈdɛmənˌstreɪtə /

noun

1. a person who demonstrates equipment, machines, products, etc

2. a person who takes part in a public demonstration

3. a piece of merchandise, such as a car that one test-drives, used to display merits or performance to prospective buyers

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• counterdemonstrator
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• demonstrators
  plural

Etymology

Origin of demonstrator

1605–15; < Latin dēmonstrātor, equivalent to dēmonstrā ( re ) ( see demonstrate) + -tor -tor

Explanation

If you participate in a political protest, you are a demonstrator. Demonstrate means to show, and by dint of your presence, you are showing that you agree with the protest message. Demonstrator can also mean someone who demonstrates how something works. Electrolux vacuums were sold by door-to-door salespeople who were also demonstrators––they put horrible messes down on the rug to demonstrate their vacuum's power.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

demonstrator demonstrators

Air Force to build its prototype, and is backed by Northrop Grumman and RTX, which is providing Pratt & Whitney engines for the first demonstrator.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

The results from the first demonstrator have already shaped the team's plans for the next version of PLATON.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 17, 2026

In World War II, "Japan committed acts of aggression, and in turn suffered enormous damage from the atomic bombs," demonstrator Yura Suzuike told AFP.

From Barron's ● May 3, 2026

The jury was shown a video of a demonstrator blocking the minister's car with Wai sitting in the front passenger seat.

From BBC ● Mar. 23, 2026

“We considered taking a stand, being arrested and going to jail to be an event that instilled the utmost pride,” one student demonstrator explained.

From "Because They Marched" by Russell Freedman

Approximately 50 demonstrators gathered Saturday morning in Pasadena as part of a national action to honor lives lost during immigration enforcement operations and in detention centers during the Trump administration.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026

Anti-racism demonstrators gathered at 11:00 on Glasgow Green.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

Volunteers stretched blue tarpaulins over small groups as chants continued and soaked demonstrators waited for news from the police barricades.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

One of the demonstrators accused her online of overstating the company’s work with the Pentagon.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026

A handful of demonstrators carried signs on Madison Avenue for a short while before Zannikos and his partners reluctantly agreed to settle.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times

Related Words

• marcher
• radical
• rioter
• striker