welder

American  

[wel-der] / ˈwɛl dər /

Rarely weldor

noun

1. a person who unites or fuses pieces of metal by hammering, compressing, or the like, usually after softening them by heat.

   Our machinists and welders take your metal project from 3D image to the real thing.

2. a tool or machine used to unite or fuse pieces of metal.

   The portable spot welder is connected by a long cable so you can take it to wherever it’s needed.

3. a person or thing that unites other people or things harmoniously.

   She’s a great welder of ideas, writing in a way that revives the best from the past and applies it to today’s issues.

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Etymology

Origin of welder

First recorded in 1805–15; weld ¹ ( def. ) + -er ¹ ( def. )

Explanation

Someone or something whose job involves fusing two pieces of metal together is a welder. If you dream of wielding a blowtorch as you help build a ship, car, or skyscraper, you might enjoy being a welder. A welder's work or hobby is welding — joining one piece of metal to another using heat or pressure, or both. Most welders use a blowtorch that sends showers of sparks into the air as it reaches temperatures of 4,000 degrees or higher. Welders dress in protective gear, including heat-resistant helmets with a darkened lens, safety glasses or goggles, and flame-resistant clothing. A welder is also what we call a machine that is used for welding. The word welder is from weld, which was altered from well, "to boil or rise."

Example Sentences

Now married to a welder, Bayer says the couple have considered moving somewhere else for an adventure.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 3, 2026

Later, when sent to a chemical plant, he volunteered to work as a welder and bluffed his way through a quiz designed to test his qualifications.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 2, 2026

Festival-goers can compete for the title of best welder, crane operator or backhoe loader -- or be crowned the "Oildorado Queen."

From Barron's • Oct. 20, 2025

A welder by trade, he said he returned to working at the restaurant full time after his mom was diagnosed with breast cancer.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 26, 2025

He took a job as a welder at the Lockheed Air Corporation and mourned his lost Olympics.

From "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand