Standard Lemma guide

dispenser

noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /dɪˈspɛnsə/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: D IH0 S P EH1 N S ER0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Something or someone that dispenses things.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Something or someone that dispenses things.

An object used to dispense other items.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • a toilet-paper dispenser

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Something or someone that dispenses things.

A person who makes up prescriptions, such as an optician or pharmacist.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

a container so designed that the contents can be used in prescribed amounts

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: container

Narrower terms: aerosol, aerosol container, aerosol can, aerosol bomb, spray can, atomizer, atomiser, spray, sprayer, nebulizer, nebuliser, inhaler, inhalator, roll-on, slinger ring, soap dispenser

5

noun

Meaning 5

a person who dispenses

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: supplier, provider

History

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman dispensour, from Old French despenseor, from Latin dispensator. By surface analysis, dispense + -er.

Across languages

Translations

28 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: dispensador — object used to dispense other items
  • Danish: dispenser — object used to dispense other items
  • Finnish: jakelulaite — object used to dispense other items
  • Finnish: annostelija — object used to dispense other items
  • French: distributeur — object used to dispense other items
  • French: dévidoir — object used to dispense other items
  • French: dérouleur — object used to dispense other items
  • German: Abroller — object used to dispense other items
  • German: Austeiler — object used to dispense other items
  • German: Spender — object used to dispense other items
  • German: Verteiler — object used to dispense other items
  • Greek: διανεμητής (dianemitís) — object used to dispense other items
  • Hungarian: adagoló — object used to dispense other items
  • Irish: riarthóir — object used to dispense other items
  • Italian: distributore — object used to dispense other items
  • Italian: erogatore — object used to dispense other items
  • Norwegian Bokmål: dispenser — object used to dispense other items
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: dispenser — object used to dispense other items
  • Polish: dozownik — object used to dispense other items
  • Romanian: distribuitor — object used to dispense other items
  • Romanian: dispensator — object used to dispense other items
  • Russian: доза́тор (dozátor) — object used to dispense other items
  • Russian: автома́т (avtomát) — object used to dispense other items
  • Spanish: dispensador — object used to dispense other items
  • Swedish: utdelare — object used to dispense other items
  • Swedish: fördelare — object used to dispense other items
  • Swedish: dosa — object used to dispense other items
  • Danish: farmaceut — person who makes up prescriptions