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REFERENCE

interpreter

n.
US //ˌɪnˈtɝpɹətɝ// UK //ɪntˈɜːpɹɪtɐ// in·ter·preter
  1. 1 language translator (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a person who translates spoken words from one language into another as someone is speaking.

    a professional who facilitates communication between speakers of different languages by translating oral or signed discourse in real-time.

    Example

    The president spoke to the foreign visitors through a Japanese interpreter.

    Example

    The conference provided simultaneous interpreters for all six official languages to ensure that every delegate could participate in the debate without delay.

    Usage

    Often used with 'for' to indicate the person or group being assisted.

    Teacher's tip

    Learners often confuse this with 'translator'; emphasize that an interpreter works with live speech, not written documents.
    Pitfall
    The book was written by a famous interpreter.
    The book was written by a famous translator.

    Use 'interpreter' for spoken or signed language and 'translator' for written text.

  2. 2 artistic or data analyst (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    someone who explains the meaning of a piece of art, a law, or a set of facts.

    an individual who provides a specific explanation, version, or creative rendering of a work, text, or data set.

    Example

    She is a famous interpreter of classical music who plays with great emotion.

    Example

    As a leading interpreter of constitutional law, the judge was frequently called upon to clarify the original intent of the founding documents.
  3. 3 computing (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    a computer program that reads and follows instructions in a programming language one line at a time.

    a computer program that directly executes instructions written in a programming or scripting language without requiring them to be previously compiled into machine code.

    Example

    Python uses an interpreter to run code, which makes it easy to test small changes quickly.

    Example

    The script failed because the local interpreter was an older version that did not support the latest syntax features.

    Usage

    Usually functions as a countable noun in technical documentation.

    Teacher's tip

    Contrast this with a 'compiler', which translates the whole program before running it.
Origin

From Middle English interpreter, interpretour, etc., from Old French interpreteur, interpreteeur, etc., from Late Latin interpretātōr, from classical Latin interpretātus (“explained, translated”) + -or (“-er: forming agent nouns”), from interpretārī (“to explain, to translate”), from interpres (“go-between, translator”) + -ārī (“to be ~ed”), q.v. In reference to divine emissaries, a calque of Mercury's Latin epithet interpres divum (“go-between of the gods”). In reference to the rhetorical device, a calque of Latin interpretatio. Equivalent to interpret + -er. Displaced native Old English wealhstod.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Related words

Last updated July 22, 2026