tester
1 Americannoun
noun
noun
noun
noun
noun
Etymology
Origin of tester1
First recorded in 1655–65; test 1 + -er 1
Origin of tester2
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English tester, testo(u)r, testir, teester “headpiece,” from Old French testiere “headpiece, head covering,” from Medieval Latin testerium, testrum, testura “canopy of a bed”; derivative of Vulgar Latin testa “head,” from Latin testa “earthenware jar; brick; tile”; see test 2
Origin of tester3
First recorded in 1560–70; earlier testorn, variant of teston, with -r- from Middle French testart “teston”
Explanation
When someone is a tester, they either administer tests or they assess the safety or function of a product. You might hope for an eventual career as a bubblegum tester. When you take a standardized exam, a tester will hand out papers and collect them when your time is up. And when you get a driver's license, a tester will ride along with you in the car during your road test. There's another type of tester that's a free sample, like a lipstick tester you can try on in a store. And an old-fashioned tester is the fabric canopy on the top of a four-poster bed.
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.
Advantest’s system-on-chip tester has also become the industry standard with over 60% market share, giving it a durable economic moat that should be difficult for any competitors to erode, the analyst adds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 8, 2026
In 2022, we rode along with an early FSD beta tester.
From Barron's ● May 3, 2026
Others affected by the fire include mechanic and MOT tester David Mills, who lost his entire collection of tools.
From BBC ● Apr. 29, 2026
Pour the batter into your prepared pan and bake for 30–35 minutes, until a tester comes out clean and the top is golden.
From Salon ● Apr. 3, 2025
This time have your tester give you three glasses, two of which are filled with one of the Colas and the third with the other.
From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell
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.
