typographer

American  

[tahy-pog-ruh-fer] / taɪˈpɒg rə fər /

noun

1. a person skilled or engaged in typography.

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typographer British  

/ taɪˈpɒɡrəfə /

noun

1. a person skilled in typography

2. another name for compositor

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Etymology

Origin of typographer

First recorded in 1635–45; typograph(y) + -er ¹

Explanation

A typographer is someone who designs printed words. If you admire a beautifully designed font, you can thank a typographer. Famous typefaces, like Helvetica, Futura, or Times New Roman, were all designed by typographers. When you think of how many printed words we all read on a regular basis, both on paper and on screens, you'll start to realize what an important job typographers do. They arrange type in a way that aids communication and conveys a mood along with the words. Typographer adds the Greek typos, "dent or impression," to grapheia, "writing."

Example Sentences

Hailing from a dyed-in-the-wool Social Democratic family, she is the daughter of a typographer and a pre-school teacher.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

Frederiksen, raised by a typographer father and a mother who worked in daycare, joined youth politics to fight social inequality.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

Back then, the personal computer revolution was just beginning, and typographer Vincent Connaire was working on new fonts.

From BBC • Aug. 17, 2021

On this day in 1829, 189 years ago, an inventor named William Austin Burt patented a typographer, an early writing machine and forerunner to the typewriter.

From Slate • Jul. 23, 2018

In this connection the writer must offer his profound gratitude to the industrious typographer, who often makes two jokes grow where only one grew before, and has added generously to the distress of amateur elocutionists.

From Mr. Dooley's Philosophy by Dunne, Finley Peter