welder

American  

[wel-der] / ˈwɛl dər /

Rarely weldor

noun

welders plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• welders
  plural

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

See Examples For:

welder welders

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

He is an underwater photographer who became a welder after the fire, driven by a need to learn smart, flame-resistant construction.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 17, 2025

Amidou Diallo, a welder who has been fruitlessly searching for fuel for his generator, fears the shortages could lead to an increase in crime and a worsened security situation.

From BBC ● Nov. 11, 2025

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

In that half-world between sleep and wakefulness, I can almost hear the ringing of a hammer on steel and the dry hiss of the arc welder at the little machine shop by the tipple.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam

“Our welders finished ahead of schedule,” the department added.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2026

Plumbers, electricians, welders and other skilled tradespeople are in short supply there.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 20, 2026

The construction and installation of offshore wind turbines requires the expertise of skilled electrical workers, pipe fitters, welders, pile drivers, iron workers, machinists and carpenters.

From Salon ● May 9, 2026

"For thousands of engineers, electricians, steel welders, and IT specialists, it will mean high-paying and exciting work to build a remarkable aircraft that connects millions of people around the world," he said.

From Barron's ● May 7, 2026

It was a delicate procedure, requiring the welders to balance on opposite ends of a beam while it was lowered onto columns, then welded in place.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover