toaster

¹ American  

[toh-ster] / ˈtoʊ stər /

noun

1. an instrument or appliance for toasting bread, muffins, etc.

2. a person who toasts something.

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toaster ² American  

[toh-ster] / ˈtoʊ stər /

noun

1. a person who proposes or joins in a toast to someone or something.

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toaster British  

/ ˈtəʊstə /

noun

1. a device for toasting bread, usually electric, and often equipped with an automatic timer

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Etymology

Origin of toaster¹

First recorded in 1575–85; toast ¹ + -er ¹

Origin of toaster²

First recorded in 1695–1705; toast ² + -er ¹

Explanation

A toaster is a device in your kitchen that you use, surprisingly enough, to make toast. You can toast bread in an oven instead, but it's easier with a toaster. The pop-up toaster was invented in 1921, and those of us who prefer our bread warm and crispy are glad. Before the electric toasters we're familiar with (and their relatives, small plug-in toaster ovens), toast was made by putting bread slices inside long-handled metal frames and holding them over a fire. You can also use this noun to mean "person giving a toast," but this is less common.

Example Sentences

Plucky home qualifier Maddison Inglis plans to do a bit of shopping with her unexpected Australian Open windfall -- and a toaster and kettle top her wish list.

From Barron's • Jan. 26, 2026

Now in towns across America, these volunteer-led gatherings invite people to bring in broken household items—a toaster, a lamp, a bike—and participants use their skills to repair them.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 17, 2026

Leslie Serro, vice president of marketing for Pop-Tarts, said the toaster pastry saw its highest volume of brand searches in more than 15 years on last year’s game day.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 12, 2025

But the proliferation of food items advertised as high-protein, ranging from toaster pastries to tortilla chips, could lead consumers astray, Miserandino said.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 28, 2025

Grammy looks like the time she got a shock from plugging in the toaster.

From "Shouting at the Rain" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt