washer

American  

[wosh-er, waw-sher] / ˈwɒʃ ər, ˈwɔ ʃər /

noun

• washers
  plural

1. a person or thing that washes.

2. washing machine.

3. a flat ring or perforated piece of leather, rubber, metal, etc., used to give tightness to a joint, to prevent leakage, to distribute pressure, etc., as under the head of a nut or bolt.

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washer British  

/ ˈwɒʃə /

noun

1. a person or thing that washes

2. a flat ring or drilled disc of metal used under the head of a bolt or nut to spread the load when tightened

3. any flat ring of rubber, felt, metal, etc, used to provide a seal under a nut or in a tap or valve seat

4. See washing machine

5. chemical engineering a device for cleaning or washing gases or vapours; scrubber

6. a face cloth; flannel

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• washerless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• washers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of washer

Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; see origin at wash, -er ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

washer washers

She said her landlord hasn’t fixed the washer and dryer on her floor in more than a year, and she’s constantly concerned about being forced out by rent hikes.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026

"Having a cool shower, putting a cold washer on your neck, making sure you're hydrated - all of those things will help physiologically as well," she said.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

Avoid using the oven on scorching days and delay running the dishwasher, washer or dryer until the cooler evening hours.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 29, 2026

The sound of mooing and a pressure washer could be heard.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026

I stared at them while the crank on the washer squeaked.

From "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd

On-site health and wellness services are provided as well as washers and dryers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026

Hosepipes and pressure washers should not be used to:

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

Then, it’s a cutback on durable goods, such as big appliances like dishwashers or washers and dryers for laundry, he said.

From MarketWatch ● May 12, 2026

Last month, it said it would spend $60 million on a new factory in Perrysburg, Ohio, where it will produce components and subassemblies for washers and dryers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026

Mom let us put the coins in the washers, then we climbed up and sat on them.

From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls