Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

pointer

/ˈpɔɪn.təɹ/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.62 in modern English

Syllables: point-er
IPA: /ˈpɔɪn.təɹ/

9

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Anything that points or is used for pointing.

noun

Anything that points or is used for pointing.

noun

Anything that points or is used for pointing.

noun

Anything that points or is used for pointing.

noun

Anything that points or is used for pointing.

noun

Anything that points or is used for pointing.

noun

A tip, a bit of advice.

noun

Something that gives a point (sharp end) to something.

Example Sentences

"The talkers and pointers had undermined him. They had touched him with the acid of their suspicions, and the corrosion spread until he himself had lost sight of the truth."
"The man he addressed drew back in horror, but answered the musketeer’s words by pointing his finger. Athos offered the man a half pistole to accompany him, but the man refused. Athos went down the street that the pointer had indicated to him with his finger; […]"
"“Hey,” the finger pointer said, re-pointing his finger at Joe, “are you a joke or what?” / “I don't think I'm a joke.” / “Well I think you're a joke.” He dropped his hand and then lifted it again and pointed his finger at Joe's chest."
"One man pointed his finger at another, nearly poking the tip of it into the man’s chest. I sidled closer and heard the pointer accuse the other man of cheating."
"Most of the early wirehaired pointers represented a combination of Griffon, Stichelhaar, Pudelpointer, and German Shorthair. The Pudelpointer was a cross between a Poodle dog and an English Pointer bitch; the Griffon and the Stichelhaar were composed of Pointer, Foxhound, Pudelpointer, and a Polish water dog."
"I do consider assignment statements and pointer variables to be among computer science's "most valuable treasures.""

Etymology

From point + -er (agent noun suffix) or + -er (measurement suffix) (sense 4).

Word Breakdown

Suffix: point, er

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈpɔɪn.təɹ/
British English: /ˈpɔɪn.tə/

Inflected Forms

pointers (plural)

Derived Forms

downpointer nonpointer pointerless pointerlike telepointer

Phrases

back pointer Faraday pointer finger-pointer five-pointer Hungarian Pointer laser pointer mouse pointer parent pointer tree

Frequently Paired Words

dereference address retriever setter

Synonyms

fescue hand needle indicator reference cursor advice hint

Rhymes With

poynter jointer

Questions

How do you pronounce pointer?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈpɔɪn.təɹ/.
What does pointer mean?: Anything that points or is used for pointing.
Where does pointer come from?: From point + -er (agent noun suffix) or + -er (measurement suffix) (sense 4).

How to pronounce pointer

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “pointer”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈpɔɪn.təɹ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “pointer”.
Repeat and practice — Say “pointer” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.