Typewriter: meaning, definitions and examples

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typewriter

 

[ ˈtaɪpˌraɪ.t̬ər ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

office equipment

A typewriter is a machine with keys that you press to print letters or numbers onto paper. Typewriters were widely used before computers became popular.

Synonyms

keyboard, word processor.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
typewriter

This term is used when referring to a mechanical or electromechanical machine used for typing characters. It's often associated with the past and has a nostalgic or vintage feel.

  • She wrote her first novel on an old typewriter.
  • The museum had an exhibit featuring antique typewriters.
word processor

This term is used when talking about software or electronic devices specifically designed for word processing tasks, such as writing, editing, and formatting text.

  • Microsoft Word is a popular word processor.
  • She edits all her documents using a word processor.
keyboard

This word is appropriate when referring to the input device used with computers and other electronic devices to type text or commands.

  • He needs a new keyboard for his computer.
  • Typing on a keyboard all day can lead to wrist strain.

Examples of usage

  • The secretary used a typewriter to type up the report.
  • He still prefers writing on a typewriter rather than using a computer.
Context #2 | Noun

obsolete technology

A typewriter is a device that prints letters and symbols onto paper when a person presses the keys. It was commonly used for writing before the invention of computers and printers.

Synonyms

typing machine, writing machine.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
typewriter

Commonly used to refer to older mechanical or electromechanical devices used for writing text before the advent of computers.

  • She found an old typewriter in her grandmother's attic.
  • He likes the sound of the typewriter while writing his novel.
writing machine

Less commonly used term for typewriter, can be seen in historical or academic contexts.

  • Historians often study the evolution of writing machines.
  • She learned to use a writing machine in the 1940s.
typing machine

This is an alternative way to refer to a typewriter, typically in a more technical or descriptive context.

  • The antique shop had several typing machines on display.
  • The typing machine was a huge innovation in its time.

Examples of usage

  • My grandfather still has his old typewriter from the 1950s.
  • She found an antique typewriter at the flea market.

Translations

Translations of the word "typewriter" in other languages:

🇵🇹 máquina de escrever

🇮🇳 टाइपराइटर

🇩🇪 Schreibmaschine

🇮🇩 mesin tik

🇺🇦 друкарська машинка

🇵🇱 maszyna do pisania

🇯🇵 タイプライター

🇫🇷 machine à écrire

🇪🇸 máquina de escribir

🇹🇷 daktilo

🇰🇷 타자기

🇸🇦 آلة كاتبة

🇨🇿 psací stroj

🇸🇰 písací stroj

🇨🇳 打字机

🇸🇮 pisalni stroj

🇮🇸 ritvél

🇰🇿 жазу машинасы

🇬🇪 წერილის მანქანა

🇦🇿 yazı maşını

🇲🇽 máquina de escribir

Etymology

The typewriter was invented in the 1860s by Christopher Latham Sholes, Carlos Glidden, and Samuel W. Soule. The first commercially successful typewriter was introduced in 1874 by Remington and Sons. The typewriter revolutionized writing and communication, allowing for faster and more legible text than handwritten documents. Over the years, typewriters evolved with various designs and features until they were eventually replaced by computers and word processors in the late 20th century.

See also: prototype, subtype, type, typeface, types, typesetting, typical, typify, typing, typist, typography.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #12,310, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.