speller: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to Formal
Quick answer
What does “speller” mean?
A person who spells words.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who spells words; one who forms words correctly from individual letters.
A computer program or device that checks spelling; (chiefly US) a textbook or person used for teaching spelling; a participant in a spelling bee.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'speller' almost exclusively refers to a person. In the US, it commonly refers to a spelling textbook for schoolchildren and is a standard term for a participant in a spelling bee.
Connotations
UK: Neutral, skill-based. US: Can evoke childhood education (textbook) or competition (spelling bee).
Frequency
Higher frequency in US English due to educational and competitive contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “speller” in a Sentence
[be] a good/bad speller[possessive] speller (e.g., She's our best speller.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except perhaps in reference to software: 'The email client has a built-in speller.'
Academic
Used in educational research and linguistics to discuss literacy skills: 'The study compared good and poor spellers.'
Everyday
Common when discussing personal ability: 'I'm a terrible speller without autocorrect.'
Technical
In computing: 'The document processor's speller flagged several errors.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “speller”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “speller”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “speller”
- Confusing 'speller' (noun) with 'to spell' (verb).
- Using 'speller' to mean a magical incantation.
- Using the US textbook sense in a UK context where it would be unclear.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While primarily for people, it can also refer to a spelling textbook (US) or a spell-checking program.
A 'speller' is the older term for the software function. 'Spell-checker' is now more common and specific. 'Speller' can sound slightly dated in a tech context.
No. 'Speller' is only a noun. The related verb is 'to spell'.
Yes, that is a very common and natural phrase to describe someone who often makes spelling mistakes.
A person who spells words.
Speller is usually neutral to formal in register.
Speller: in British English it is pronounced /ˈspel.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈspel.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A SPELLer casts the correct sequence of letters, like a wizard casts a spell.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPELLING IS A PERFORMANCE / COMPETITION (e.g., 'She out-spelled everyone.').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'speller' MOST likely used in American English but not British English?