noun
-
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
The 12-year-old won the Words of Wisdom bee hosted by Scott Remer, a former speller, coach and study guide author.
From Seattle Times ● May 30, 2024
Mr. Bailly, who won the competition in 1980, tries to make eye contact with the speller and humanize the moment.
From New York Times ● Jun. 1, 2023
I wondered how such a perfect speller like Dad could end up with a son like me.
From Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff
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.
