What does "adapter" mean?
One who is capable of adapting to differing situations.
Adapter
/əˈdæptəɹ/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: One who is capable of adapting to differing situations.
- Grammar: adapter is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: adaptor, adaptors, adjuster, arranger.
- Useful contrasts: detacher, disconnector, nonconformist.
- Usage evidence: I had to buy a separate adapter to use the headset with my newest phone.
How to use "adapter"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "adapter" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "adapter" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "adapter" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "adapter" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "adapter" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "adaptor" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "adapter", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 One who is capable of adapting to differing situations.
"He was an able adapter, and could easily adjust to the differences when the company changed ownership."
- 2 device that enables something to be used in a way different from that for which it was intended or makes different pieces of apparatus compatible wordnet
- 3 One who adapts a thing, e.g. a play.
"The critic gave rave reviews to the adapter of the ancient play, who worked to give the text more relevance to the modern day."
- 4 a musician who adapts a composition for particular voices or instruments or for another style of performance wordnet
- 5 A device or application used to achieve operative compatibility between devices that otherwise are incompatible.
"He had an adapter that let him plug his phone into the car's cigarette lighter for power."
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 A device or application used to achieve operative compatibility between devices that otherwise are incompatible.; Specifically, a device that permits two or more plugs to be used at a single electrical power point.
"The wall outlet sprouted an electrical monstrosity of adapters plugged into adapters that sparked ominously."
- 7 A device or application used to achieve operative compatibility between devices that otherwise are incompatible.; Specifically, a device that allows one format of plug to be used with a different format of socket.
"We bought adapters to use our three-prong plugs in the two-prong, unpolarized outlets of the old house."
- 8 A device or application used to achieve operative compatibility between devices that otherwise are incompatible.; Specifically, an AC adapter: a device that reduces voltage and converts AC to DC to allow a battery-powered device to use mains power.
"I lost my cellphone's adapter so I couldn't recharge it."
- 9 A collection of low-rank matrices which, when added to a base model, produces a fine-tuned model; a LoRA.
Antonyms
Example
"I had to buy a separate adapter to use the headset with my newest phone."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "adapter"?
Common synonyms include: adaptor, adaptors, adjuster, arranger, compatibility layer, connecter.
How do you use "adapter" in a sentence?
I had to buy a separate adapter to use the headset with my newest phone.
How do you pronounce "adapter"?
Pronounced /əˈdæptəɹ/.
Etymology
From adapt + -er.