percolator

noun

per·​co·​la·​tor ˈpər-kə-ˌlā-tər How to pronounce percolator (audio)
nonstandard
-kyə- How to pronounce percolator (audio)
: one that percolates
specifically : a coffeepot in which boiling water rising through a tube is repeatedly deflected downward through a perforated basket containing ground coffee beans to extract their essence

Examples of percolator in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Original price: $119.99 This Presto electric percolator brews up to 12 cups of coffee quickly, delivering a rich, full-bodied flavor. May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025 There’s one tubular percolator, a plastic lid, an on-and-off switch, a covert water tank, a filter, and a space for your mug. Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 9 July 2025 People used to mostly make coffee with percolators. Matthew Korfhage, WIRED, 28 Feb. 2025 It’s traditionally made using a small metal percolator similar to the kind used for Vietnamese cà phê. Meher Mirza, Saveur, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for percolator

Word History

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of percolator was in 1830

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Percolator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/percolator. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

percolator

noun
per·​co·​la·​tor ˈpər-kə-ˌlāt-ər How to pronounce percolator (audio)
: a coffeepot in which boiling water rising through a tube is repeatedly turned downward through a basket with holes that contains ground coffee beans to make coffee

Medical Definition

percolator

noun
per·​co·​la·​tor ˈpər-kə-ˌlāt-ər How to pronounce percolator (audio)
: an apparatus for the extraction of a drug with a liquid solvent by downward displacement

More from Merriam-Webster on percolator

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