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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.


Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


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."

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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.

See Examples For:

Samuel Chitendwe, a 47-year-old welder and father of four, said he voted for Mundubile.

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

"A welder in India could be managing a welder-robot in Prague," he said.

From Barron's ● Jun. 11, 2026

Ali Nassiri, a local welder, spent 30 consecutive hours at the site, using his professional tools to cut through steel beams.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 6, 2026

In Pittsburgh: Jennifer Beals plays a steel-mill welder by day and dancer at night in the movie “Flashdance.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 16, 2026

He was Russell Dieter, an ex-Marine aircraft mechanic who had been working as a production welder and, since his divorce, living on the family farm, midstate.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

“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

He said that in his letter he had written about how many jobs would be created "related to electricians and welders and plumbers".

From BBC ● Mar. 24, 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

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