English Reference
noun

subscriber

n.
US /səbsˈkɹaɪbɝ/ UK /səbskɹˈaɪbɐ/ sub·scriber UK spelling subscribers

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    someone who pays for or signs up to receive a magazine, a streaming service, or regular updates from a website.

    an individual who pays a subscription fee or registers for regular access to a publication, digital service, or telecommunications network.

    Simple

    The magazine has over ten thousand monthly subscribers who receive the print edition by mail.

    In context

    The streaming platform reported a significant increase in new subscribers following the release of its highly anticipated original series.

    Usage

    often used with the preposition 'to' followed by the service name.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    a part of a computer system that waits for and receives specific information or updates from another part.

    a software component or object that registers to receive events, messages, or data updates from a publisher in a messaging pattern.

    Simple

    The subscriber receives a notification every time the database is updated.

    In context

    In this architecture, the subscriber remains decoupled from the publisher, allowing for greater scalability and easier maintenance of the messaging system.

    Usage

    typically used in the context of the 'publish-subscribe' architectural pattern.

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency Formal Law

    a person who signs their name at the bottom of a formal document to show they agree with it.

    a person whose signature appears at the end of a document, often to indicate agreement, support, or financial commitment.

    Simple

    The subscribers to the agreement promised to provide the necessary funding.

    In context

    The subscribers of the petition demanded a formal inquiry into the local council's recent zoning decisions.

    Usage

    frequently appears in legal contracts or formal petitions.

    signatoryundersigned

The paid Truth Social service offers subscribers near-instant delivery of Trump's posts, arriving seconds before they appear for the general public.

BBC News· 12 Aug 2026

It has been viewed as a way to give subscribers an edge in trading stocks and other heavily traded assets.

BBC News· 11 Aug 2026

From subscribe + -er.

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

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated