checker: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral, tending towards formal/technical.
Quick answer
What does “checker” mean?
A person or thing that verifies, examines, or inspects for accuracy, correctness, or condition.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person or thing that verifies, examines, or inspects for accuracy, correctness, or condition; also, a pattern of alternating squares.
A person whose job is to inspect, verify, or mark items; a component in a system that validates something; a pattern of squares, often alternating in colour.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In BrE, the 'square pattern' is more commonly spelled 'chequer' (e.g., 'chequerboard'), though 'checker' is understood. The verb form ('to checker' meaning to mark with a pattern) is rare in both. 'Checker' for a person/device (e.g., 'spell checker', 'fact checker') is identical.
Connotations
In AmE, 'checker' can also refer to a cashier in a supermarket (short for 'grocery checker'), a usage rare in BrE.
Frequency
The 'inspector' sense is of similar frequency. The 'pattern' sense is more frequent in AmE spelling ('checker'); 'chequer' is the dominant BrE form for pattern.
Grammar
How to Use “checker” in a Sentence
N + of + N (checker of passports)N + for + N (checker for errors)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “checker” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The sunlight chequered the forest floor.
- Years of stress had chequered his career with ups and downs.
American English
- The sunlight checkered the forest floor.
- His past was checkered with minor legal issues.
adjective
British English
- They played on a chequered board.
- He has a somewhat chequered history.
American English
- They played on a checkerboard.
- The applicant had a checkered employment record.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
A quality checker on the production line ensures standards are met.
Academic
The manuscript was sent to a peer reviewer acting as a fact checker.
Everyday
I always use a spell checker before sending an important email.
Technical
The parity checker in the circuit detected the data transmission error.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “checker”
- Using 'controller' for 'checker' (a controller directs, a checker verifies).
- Misspelling 'chequer' as 'checker' in BrE formal contexts for the pattern.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A 'checker' often implies a more routine, verification-focused task (checking for errors/compliance), while an 'inspector' can imply a more authoritative, in-depth examination, often with the power to enforce standards.
No, 'checkered' (or 'chequered') is frequently used metaphorically to describe a history or career marked by alternating periods of good and bad fortune or varied character.
Yes, but it is rare. As a verb, it primarily means 'to mark with a pattern of squares' (e.g., 'checkered fabric') or, metaphorically, 'to diversify' (e.g., 'a checkered past'). It is not commonly used for the act of inspecting.
'Chequer' is the standard British English spelling for the 'pattern of squares' meaning and related derivatives (chequerboard, chequered). The 'person/device that checks' is always 'checker' in both varieties.
A person or thing that verifies, examines, or inspects for accuracy, correctness, or condition.
Checker is usually neutral, tending towards formal/technical. in register.
Checker: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʃɛkə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʃɛkər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Run it through a checker first.”
- “He's a checker, not a creator.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CHECKered flag at a race finish line—the official (checker) waves it to verify the winner.
Conceptual Metaphor
ACCURACY IS A CLEAN SLATE / ERROR IS A DIRTY MARK (A checker cleans the 'dirt' of mistakes).
Practice
Quiz
In American English, which of the following is a common meaning of 'checker'?