dispenser: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral, slightly formal
Quick answer
What does “dispenser” mean?
A machine or device designed to automatically release a specific amount of something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A machine or device designed to automatically release a specific amount of something.
A person or system that administers, distributes, or supplies something, often in an official or regulated capacity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both varieties use the term identically for devices (soap, cash). 'Dispensing chemist' is a common British term for a pharmacist who prepares prescriptions; in the US, 'pharmacy' is standard.
Connotations
In UK, 'dispenser' in a medical context strongly implies a qualified pharmacist. In US, it's more generic for any device.
Frequency
Slightly more common in UK due to the established 'dispensing chemist' phrase. Otherwise, equal frequency.
Grammar
How to Use “dispenser” in a Sentence
[Dispenser] of [noun: commodity][Adjective] dispenserVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dispenser” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The pharmacy will dispense the medication tomorrow.
- The machine dispenses hot drinks.
American English
- The ATM will dispense cash in $20 bills.
- The judge dispensed justice fairly.
adjective
British English
- The dispensing chemist is on High Street.
- It's a dispensing machine.
American English
- The dispensing mechanism is jammed.
- She has a dispensing license for pharmaceuticals.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to vending machines, ATM machines (cash dispensers), or automated kiosks.
Academic
Used in engineering or design contexts for devices; in pharmacy/pharmacology for personnel.
Everyday
Commonly used for soap, paper towel, water, or cash machines.
Technical
Precise term in laboratory settings (e.g., 'reagent dispenser'), medical devices ('insulin dispenser'), or retail ('condiment dispenser').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dispenser”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dispenser”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dispenser”
- Using 'dispenser' for a person who is not in a formal dispensing role (e.g., a waiter is not a 'food dispenser'). Confusing 'dispenser' with 'container' (a dispenser releases; a container just holds).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can refer to a person in an official role who distributes something (e.g., a dispenser of justice, a dispensing chemist). However, the machine sense is more common in everyday language.
A vending machine is a type of dispenser that sells items. 'Dispenser' is broader: a soap dispenser gives soap away, it doesn't sell it. All vending machines are dispensers, but not all dispensers are vending machines.
No, 'dispenser' is a noun. The related verb is 'to dispense'. (e.g., 'The machine dispenses tickets.')
Essentially, yes. 'Cash dispenser' is a more formal/technical term, while 'ATM' (Automated Teller Machine) or 'cashpoint' (UK) are the common everyday terms.
A machine or device designed to automatically release a specific amount of something.
Dispenser is usually neutral, slightly formal in register.
Dispenser: in British English it is pronounced /dɪˈspensə/, and in American English it is pronounced /dɪˈspɛnsər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A dispenser of wisdom/judgment/advice (formal, figurative)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SPENcer (a person) who DIShes out money. A DISPENSER dishes out soap, cash, or advice.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTOMATED SERVANT (a device that performs a service task repeatedly). SOURCE AS CONTAINER (the dispenser contains and releases the valued substance).
Practice
Quiz
In a traditional UK context, a 'dispensing chemist' is primarily a: