programmer

noun

pro·​gram·​mer ˈprō-ˌgra-mər How to pronounce programmer (audio)
-grə-
variants or less commonly programer
: one that programs: such as
a
: a person who prepares and tests programs for devices (such as computers)
b
: one that programs a mechanism
c
: one that prepares an instructional program
d
: a person who plans or prepares entertainment programs
a television programmer

Examples of programmer 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.
All those millions of software engineers and computer programmers are presumably on the chopping block and will be summarily replaced by AI. Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026 But ten times more capital and ten times the number of programmers does not get you ten times more lines of code. Martin Casado, Fortune, 20 May 2026 And Sharla never really talked about her past life as a computer programmer. Laura Isensee, Scientific American, 18 May 2026 The showcase presented Latin American works in progress to sales agents, distributors and festival programmers. Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for programmer

Word History

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of programmer was in 1875

Cite this Entry

“Programmer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/programmer. Accessed 28 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

programmer

noun
pro·​gram·​mer
variants also programer
ˈprō-ˌgram-ər How to pronounce programmer (audio)
-grə-mər
: a person who writes computer programs

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