starter

1 of 2

noun

start·​er ˈstär-tər 

1

: a person who initiates or sets going: such as

a

: an official who gives the signal to begin a race

b

: one who dispatches vehicles

2

a

: one that engages in a competition

especially : a member of a starting lineup

b

: one that begins to engage in an activity or process

3

: one that causes something to begin operating: such as

a

: a device for starting an engine

especially : an electric motor used to start an internal combustion engine

b

: material containing microorganisms (such as yeast) used to induce a desired fermentation

4

: something that is the beginning of a process, activity, or series

especially : appetizer

see also:

for starters

starter

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or being an item acquired with the expectation that a more elaborate or sophisticated model will be acquired in the future

a starter home

Examples of starter in a Sentence

Noun

The team is playing only five regular starters.

The car's starter needs to be replaced.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Hawks ruled out veteran guard CJ McCollum with a nose contusion ahead of Monday night’s game, opening the door for the rookie guard to run with the remaining available starters. — Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 7 Oct. 2026

Buccaneers missing three starters and a backup The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be without four key players on Thursday night, as quarterback Baker Mayfield (thumb) will officially miss a second consecutive game, as expected. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Oct. 2026

Adjective

The Guardians jumped out to an early 2-0 lead when pitcher Sean Newcomb, replacing starter Anthony Kay, made a throwing error on a Nathaniel Lowe grounder. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Many of these projects are also made with the assistance of AI, which, for some people, is a non-starter given ethical or environmental concerns surrounding the technology. — Verge Staff, The Verge, 6 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1622, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1923, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing starter

• kick-starter
• self-starter
• starter home/house
• starter kit

Rhymes for starter

• arter
• barter
• charter
• darter
• garter
• martyr
• smarter
• tartar

Kids Definition

starter

noun

start·​er

ˈstärt-ər

: someone or something that starts something or causes something else to start

the starter of a motor