stenographer
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of stenographer
An Americanism dating back to 1790–1800; stenograph + -er 1
Explanation
A stenographer is someone who types what people say. You have to listen carefully and type very fast to be a stenographer. On TV shows, you may have noticed someone typing everything the judge, lawyers, and witnesses say in a courtroom. That's the stenographer. To be a stenographer, you have to type or write quickly and be skilled at shorthand. The act of taking dictation is referred to as stenography. Like a photographer captures images, a stenographer captures words.
Vocabulary lists containing stenographer
Flowers for Algernon
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Occupations
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Richard Nixon's "Checkers" Speech (1952)
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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.
“A stenographer was a new job, and it led to women joining the workforce—though many only remained employed until they got married,” says Gershon.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 19, 2025
Rather, it belonged to a woman from Illinois with a versatile résumé that included writing, acting, engineering and working as a stenographer: Lizzie Magie.
From New York Times • Apr. 12, 2024
When Dannett appeared 17 years after Livingston’s conviction, the stenographer was eager to help.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 23, 2023
West also worries the increased record-keeping during the inquiry stage—including bringing in a stenographer to record testimony and labeling all evidence—could deter anyone coming forward with a complaint.
From Science Magazine • Nov. 28, 2023
This was the lowest court she had ever presided at: a thirteen-year-old lawyer, a court stenographer who records in Polish, and the judge in African robes.
From "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin
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.
