noun
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a person who spells words in the manner specified
a bad speller
-
a book designed to teach or improve spelling
Etymology
Origin of speller
late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at spell 1, -er 1
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.
Although a passionate reader, he was a terrible speller, immortalizing “tea” as “tae” in a 1961 painting.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
And I’m such a bad speller that even the most generous auto-correct can’t figure out that the word I’m trying to write is “mellifluous.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026
This year, he tied with another speller in 60th place, alongside the 89 others eliminated in the round.
From Seattle Times ● May 29, 2024
“He appreciated that this is a journey, which sounds very trite but is really quite true,” said Dev’s coach, Scott Remer, a former speller and study guide author.
From Washington Times ● Jun. 2, 2023
Silly things like my pink pillowcases, my record collection, my award for being the best speller in sixth grade.
From "The Red Umbrella" by Christina Gonzalez
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.
