I had to buy a separate adapter to use the headset with my newest phone.
Source: tatoeba (8900756)
Adapter
/əˈdæptəɹ/
Synonyms for "adapter" (23 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (5)
Strong matches (7)
Related words (11)
Noun(11 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: adaptor, adaptors, adjuster, arranger, compatibility layer.
- Sentence evidence is available for adapter, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, derived_reverse, opengloss.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "adapter".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "adapter"
Keep "adapter" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "adapter" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "adapter", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "adapter" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
6 entriesMore specific
7 entriesEthernet adapterHDMI adapterUSB adapteradaptive studentcreative problem solverflexible learnerpower adapter
Collocations
5 entriesEthernet adapterHDMI adapterUSB adapterpower adaptervideo adapter
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
1 entriesTranslations
54 translations across 24 languages.
Arabic
1 entries- مُشْتَرَك كَهْرَبَائِيّ noun (device allowing more plugs at an outlet)
Belarusian
1 entries- перахадні́к noun (device allowing more plugs at an outlet)
Bulgarian
4 entries- пре́ходник noun (device allowing plug to fit in an outlet of different type)
- приста́вка noun (device allowing plug to fit in an outlet of different type)
- разклони́тел noun (device allowing more plugs at an outlet)
- удължи́тел noun (device allowing more plugs at an outlet)
Catalan
1 entries- adaptador noun (device allowing plug to fit in an outlet of different type)
Chinese Mandarin
1 entries- 適配器 /适配器 noun (device allowing plug to fit in an outlet of different type)
Czech
2 entries- rozbočka noun (device allowing more plugs at an outlet)
- rozdvojka noun (device allowing more plugs at an outlet)
Dutch
4 entries- dominostekker noun (device allowing more plugs at an outlet)
- driewegstekker noun (device allowing more plugs at an outlet)
- reisstekker noun (device allowing plug to fit in an outlet of different type)
- verdeelstekker noun (device allowing more plugs at an outlet)
Esperanto
2 entries- adaptilo noun (device allowing more plugs at an outlet)
- adaptilo noun (device allowing plug to fit in an outlet of different type)
Estonian
1 entries- adapter noun (device allowing plug to fit in an outlet of different type)
Finnish
4 entries- adapteri noun (device allowing plug to fit in an outlet of different type)
- haaroitin noun (device allowing more plugs at an outlet)
- haaroituspistorasia noun (device allowing more plugs at an outlet)
- sovitin noun (device allowing plug to fit in an outlet of different type)
French
2 entries- adaptateur noun (device allowing more plugs at an outlet)
- adaptateur noun (device allowing plug to fit in an outlet of different type)
German
3 entries- Adapter noun (device allowing plug to fit in an outlet of different type)
- Steckdosenleiste noun (device allowing more plugs at an outlet)
- Steckerleiste noun (device allowing more plugs at an outlet)
Greek
1 entries- προσαρμοστής noun (device allowing plug to fit in an outlet of different type)
Japanese
1 entries- アダプター noun (device allowing plug to fit in an outlet of different type)
Khmer
1 entries- អាដាប់ធ័រ noun (device allowing plug to fit in an outlet of different type)
Lao
1 entries- ປັກສຽບໄຟ noun (device allowing plug to fit in an outlet of different type)
Polish
4 entries- adapter noun (device allowing plug to fit in an outlet of different type)
- przedłużacz noun (device allowing more plugs at an outlet)
- przejściówka noun (device allowing plug to fit in an outlet of different type)
- rozgałęźnik noun (device allowing more plugs at an outlet)
Portuguese
4 entries- T noun (device allowing plug to fit in an outlet of different type)
- adaptador noun (device allowing more plugs at an outlet)
- adaptador noun (device allowing plug to fit in an outlet of different type)
- benjamim noun (device allowing plug to fit in an outlet of different type)
Romanian
2 entries- adaptor noun (device allowing more plugs at an outlet)
- adaptor noun (device allowing plug to fit in an outlet of different type)
Russian
3 entries- ада́птер noun (device allowing plug to fit in an outlet of different type)
- переходни́к noun (device allowing more plugs at an outlet)
- переходни́к noun (device allowing plug to fit in an outlet of different type)
Slovak
2 entries- rozbočka noun (device allowing more plugs at an outlet)
- rozdvojka noun (device allowing more plugs at an outlet)
Spanish
2 entries- adaptador noun (device allowing more plugs at an outlet)
- adaptador noun (device allowing plug to fit in an outlet of different type)
Turkish
2 entries- adaptör noun (device allowing plug to fit in an outlet of different type)
- priz adaptörü noun (device allowing plug to fit in an outlet of different type)
Ukrainian
2 entries- перехідни́к noun (device allowing more plugs at an outlet)
- перехідни́к noun (device allowing plug to fit in an outlet of different type)
Sample sentences
17 total sentences available.
This adapter lets you plug in up to four USB devices.
Source: tatoeba (11091670)
The laptop needs an adapter.
Source: tatoeba (11958886)
Plug it into the adapter.
Source: tatoeba (11958887)
Showing 4 of 17 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "adapter"?
Closest matches include adaptor, adaptors, adjuster, arranger, compatibility layer.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "adapter"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.