typewriter

typewriter — noun

1. a mechanical or electric device with buttons that, when pushed, cause shaped met

1.nounB2
Definition

a mechanical or electric device with buttons that, when pushed, cause shaped metal pieces to hit an inked strip and leave marks on a page, forming printed text

Example

Anong discovered a dusty typewriter while cleaning out her grandmother's attic.

collocation: discovered a typewriter

The electric typewriter on Obi's desk had heavier keys than a modern keyboard.

collocation: electric typewriter

Common collocations
  • manual typewriter
  • electric typewriter
  • typewriter keys
  • typewriter ribbon
Synonyms
  • word processor

    refers to digital software for typing and editing, not a physical standalone machine

  • keyboard

    the input component of a computer, which looks similar but lacks the printing mechanism of a typewriter

Usage Note

Commonly modified by 'manual' or 'electric' to specify the mechanism type. Now largely replaced by computer keyboards, though still found in museums, vintage collections, and niche settings without reliable electricity. The word refers only to the machine, not the person operating it.

Common Mistakes

I need a new typewriter for my computer setup.
I need a new keyboard for my computer setup.
A typewriter is a standalone mechanical machine, not a plug-in computer peripheral.
The office hired a skilled typewriter last month.
The office hired a skilled typist last month.
'Typewriter' refers to the machine; 'typist' is the person who operates it.

Word family

  • type
    verbA2
  • typing
    nounA2
  • typist
    nounB1
  • typescript
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four terms relate to creating text, but they refer to very different tools. A typewriter is a mechanical or electric machine that prints directly onto paper with no editing possible once the key strikes. A word processor is a digital application (like Microsoft Word or Google Docs) that allows unlimited editing before printing. A computer is the general device that runs word processing software and performs many other tasks beyond typing. A keyboard is just the input component of a computer, not a complete machine. For example, you 'type on a typewriter' to produce a physical letter, but you 'type on a keyboard' connected to a computer to enter data into software.

typewriter ↗word processorcomputer ↗keyboard ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • typewriter paper
  • typewriter ribbon
  • typewriter carriage
  • typewriter key

Phrases

  • the clatter of a typewriter
  • to type on a typewriter

Prepositions

  • on a typewriter

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

The word is a compound of 'type' (from Greek 'typos' meaning 'impression' or 'figure') and 'writer' (from Old English 'writan' meaning 'to scratch' or 'to write'). The first commercially successful typewriter was patented in 1868 by Christopher Sholes, and the term originally referred only to the machine itself.