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Synonyms

sampler

American  
[sam-pler, sahm-] / ˈsæm plər, ˈsɑm- /

noun

  1. a person who samples.

  2. a piece of cloth embroidered with various stitches, serving to show a beginner's skill in needlework.

  3. a collection of samples, selections, etc..

    a sampler of French poetry.

  4. an electronic device that digitally encodes and stores samples of sound.

sampler British  
/ ˈsɑːmplə /

noun

  1. a person who takes samples

  2. a piece of embroidery executed as an example of the embroiderer's skill in using a variety of stitches: often incorporating numbers, letters, and the name and age of the embroiderer in a decorative panel

  3. music a piece of electronic equipment used for sampling

  4. a recording comprising a collection of tracks from other albums, intended to stimulate interest in the featured products

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of sampler

1250–1300; Middle English samplere < Old French essamplere, exemplaire < Latin exemplārium exemplar

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.

Build your own sampler of three varieties, and if you’re feeling generous, maybe gift a tin.

From Salon • Dec. 4, 2025

Unpack once, still get a Europe sampler platter.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 19, 2025

Curated by Francisco Valente, this dynamic sampler includes both newer work and restored rarities that have been arranged into six programs.

From New York Times • Mar. 15, 2024

That’s a recruiting sampler platter right there — a mix of gets from the portal or high school or overseas to form a squad that could end a 16-year tourney drought.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 7, 2024

I pulled my sampler from my sewing bag and looked at it.

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly

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.