recorder

noun

re·​cord·​er ri-ˈkȯr-dər 

1

a

: the chief judicial magistrate of some British cities and boroughs

b

: a municipal judge with criminal jurisdiction of first instance and sometimes limited civil jurisdiction

2

: one that records

3

: any of a group of wind instruments ranging from soprano to bass that are characterized by a conical tube, a whistle mouthpiece, and eight finger holes

Illustration of recorder

• recorder 3

Examples of recorder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Before she was elected clerk in 2022, Sweeney Bell served two terms as Marion County recorder and five years as chair of the Marion County Democratic Party. —Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 26 Mar. 2026

Analysts will examine data from the aircraft’s two onboard recorders, which captured critical information including altitude speed, and cockpit voice recordings. —Astrid Suárez, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026

Numerous phones, recorders and microphones pointed in his direction. —Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2026

Also on the ballot are candidates for Polk County attorney, recorder and treasurer. —Virginia Barreda, Des Moines Register, 21 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing recorder

• cockpit voice recorder
• flight data recorder
• flight recorder
• strip-chart recorder
• tape recorder
• videocassette recorder
• videotape recorder
• wire recorder

Rhymes for recorder

• camcorder
• disorder
• reorder
• suborder
• transborder
• boarder
• border
• corder
• order
• warder

Kids Definition

recorder

noun

re·​cord·​er ri-ˈkȯrd-ər 

1

: a person or device that records

2

: a musical instrument consisting of a usually wooden tube with finger holes and a whistle mouthpiece

Legal Definition

recorder

noun

re·​cord·​er

1

: a judge of a municipal court

2

: a public officer charged with making a record of writings or transactions (as conveyances)

a recorder of deeds