Printers refers to devices or people that print, typically machines that transfer digital text or images onto paper. In plural form, it can describe multiple machines or individuals in a printing context. The term spans hardware (printers) and roles (editors or technicians who print or produce printed materials).
US & AU accents are Premium
Unlock all accent variations
"The office upgraded all its printers to faster models."
"She works as a printer technician at the factory."
"We need to clear the queue of print jobs before lunch."
"The art exhibit featured handmade printers that produced unique textures."
The word printer comes from Old French imprimer meaning to imprint or print, from imprimer (to press in, stamp). The root impr- traces to Latin imprīmȳre, from imprīmere ‘to copy in, print’, linked to imprint and the act of impressing characters onto a surface. By the 15th century, English borrowed printer to denote a person who prints or applies printed matter, and later to the machine that does so. The plural printers emerged as compound formations in modern English to denote multiple devices or people involved in printing processes. Over time, the semantic field expanded with digital printers and 3D printers, though the core sense—producing text/images on substrate—remains consistent. The term is widely used across contexts from office equipment to publishing houses and industrial production. First known use as a technological term in English dates to the late 1400s, with printed documents and movable type clarifying the role of the printer as both craftsperson and device in the dissemination of text and imagery.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "printers" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "printers" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "printers" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "printers"
-ers sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
Pronounce as /ˈprɪn.tərz/ in US and UK/AU, with primary stress on the first syllable. Start with /prɪn-/ where /p/ is voiceless bilabial, /r/ is alveolar approximant, /ɪ/ is short, lax i, followed by /n/. The second syllable is a schwa /tər/ or /tə/, with /z/ or /z/ at the end depending on voicing and next word. In rapid speech, the /t/ can soften toward a flap [ɾ], yielding [ˈprɪn.ɾəz] before vowels. Audio references: try recordings from native speakers or pronunciation tools to hear the natural lightness of the second syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU: /ˈprɪn.tərz/.
Common errors: (1)over-adding syllable length in the second syllable: say /ˈprɪn.tər/ with a heavy /tər/; (2) misplacing stress to second syllable: /prɪnˈtərz/; (3) pronouncing final /z/ as /s/ after voiceless sounds in fast speech. Corrections: keep primary stress on first syllable, use a light, unstressed /tə/ in the second syllable, and voice the final /z/ clearly in connected speech. Practicing with minimal pairs like printers vs printer’s helps reinforce the right rhythm.
US English keeps /ˈprɪn.tərz/ with rhotic /r/ in /tər/. UK/AU typically maintain /ˈprɪn.təz/ or /ˈprɪn.təz/ with a more centralized /ə/ in unstressed syllables and less pronounced /r/ rhoticity. In many UK varieties, the final /z/ remains, but the preceding vowel in the second syllable may be reduced more; in Australian English, a similar reduction exists, often with a slightly sharper /t/ release and an even softer /ə/ in the second syllable. In fast speech, the /t/ can become a small tap [ɾ], approaching /ˈprɪn.ɾəz/. IPA references: /ˈprɪn.tərz/ (US) vs /ˈprɪn.təz/ (UK/AU).
The difficulty comes from the consonant cluster at the start /pr/ and the unstressed second syllable with a reduced vowel. The transition from /n/ to /t/ can be tricky, especially when the final /z/ is voiceless or voiced in connected speech. Mastery requires crisp /p/ release, relaxed /ɹ/ or precise /r/, and a quick, light /t/ before a reduced vowel, plus voicing on the final affricate. Focus on aligning lip and tongue posture for the /pr/ cluster and avoid over-enunciating the second syllable.
A unique concern is the shift from the voiceless /t/ to a voiced final /z/ in fluent speech. The /r/ in /prɪn/ is often realized as an approximant rather than a trill, and the /ˈ/ stress on the first syllable should remain prominent even with rapid delivery. Pay attention to the final consonant, which carries voicing and can blend with following words. IPA: /ˈprɪn.tərz/.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "printers"!
No related words found
