What does "pointer" mean?
Anything that points or is used for pointing.; One who points.
Pointer
/ˈpɔɪn.tə/ name, noun
name, noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Anything that points or is used for pointing.; One who points.
- Grammar: pointer is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: cursor, advice, alerting, arrow.
- Useful contrasts: mixed breed, mutt.
- Usage evidence: Our pointer took off after a big deer.
How to use "pointer"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "pointer" 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 "pointer" 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 "pointer" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "pointer" 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 "pointer" is acting as name, 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 "cursor" 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 "pointer", 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 Anything that points or is used for pointing.; One who points.
"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."
- 2 a strong slender smooth-haired dog of Spanish origin having a white coat with brown or black patches; scents out and points to game wordnet
- 3 Anything that points or is used for pointing.; A teacher's pointer, pointing stick, a rod with an arrow.
- 4 (computer science) indicator consisting of a movable spot of light (an icon) on a visual display; moving it allows the user to point to commands or screen positions wordnet
- 5 Anything that points or is used for pointing.; A needlelike component of a timepiece or measuring device that indicates the time or the current reading of the device.
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 an indicator as on a dial wordnet
- 7 Anything that points or is used for pointing.; A breed of hunting dog, trained to point out game.
"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."
- 8 a mark to indicate a direction or relation wordnet
- 9 Anything that points or is used for pointing.; A variable that holds the address of a memory location where a value can be stored.
"I do consider assignment statements and pointer variables to be among computer science's "most valuable treasures.""
- 10 Anything that points or is used for pointing.; An icon that indicates the position of the pointing device, such as a mouse.
"The system notifies the user of the progress of a task by changing the appearance of the pointer. System-busy pointers usually adopt a timepiece metaphor."
- 11 A tip, a bit of advice. in-plural
"The instructor gave me some pointers on writing a good paper."
- 12 Something that gives a point (sharp end) to something.
"pencil pointer"
- 13 Something worth a given number of points.
"a ten-pointer"
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Antonyms
mixed breedmutt
Example
"Our pointer took off after a big deer."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "pointer"?
Common synonyms include: cursor, advice, alerting, arrow, arrow, automatic pilot.
How do you use "pointer" in a sentence?
Our pointer took off after a big deer.
How do you pronounce "pointer"?
Pronounced /ˈpɔɪn.tə/.
Etymology
From point + -er (agent noun suffix) or + -er (measurement suffix) (sense 4).