starter

1 of 2

noun

start·​er ˈstär-tər 

1

: a person who initiates or sets going: such as

a

: an official who gives the signal to begin a race

b

: one who dispatches vehicles

2

a

: one that engages in a competition

especially : a member of a starting lineup

b

: one that begins to engage in an activity or process

3

: one that causes something to begin operating: such as

a

: a device for starting an engine

especially : an electric motor used to start an internal combustion engine

b

: material containing microorganisms (such as yeast) used to induce a desired fermentation

4

: something that is the beginning of a process, activity, or series

especially : appetizer

starter

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or being an item acquired with the expectation that a more elaborate or sophisticated model will be acquired in the future

a starter home

Phrases

for starters

: to begin with

Examples of starter in a Sentence

Noun

The team is playing only five regular starters.

The car's starter needs to be replaced.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Mann played in 75 games last season, the second-most on the team, 71 of them as a starter. —Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2024

Jacoby Brissett has thrown one touchdown pass, no interceptions and been sacked nine times as the bridge starter until No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye gets promoted. —Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 28 Sep. 2024

Adjective

Today, the concept of the starter home is a little less certain. —Lauren Phillips, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2024

The hardest kind of homes to build, not just in Colorado, but this goes in most communities across the country, have been those $200,000, $300,000 starter homes that somebody early in their career might be able to make the down payment and afford. —CBS News, 22 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1622, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1923, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing starter

• kick-starter
• self-starter
• starter home/house
• starter kit

Kids Definition

starter

noun

start·​er

ˈstärt-ər

: someone or something that starts something or causes something else to start

the starter of a motor