programmer
gb/pɹˈoʊɡɹˌæmɚ/ us/pɹˈoʊɡɹˌæmɚ/
B1
English
~ 8100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
person who writes computer programs
A person who writes code to make computer programs work.
Usage pattern:
[someone] works as a programmer
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "programmer" with "program" and say things like *"I am a program"* instead of *"I am a programmer"*. Another common mistake is using "coder" in very formal writing where "programmer" or "software engineer" sounds more appropriate.
Synonyms
developer (Very close in meaning; slightly broader, can include designing software as well as writing code.)
|
software engineer (More formal and professional-sounding; often suggests deeper training and work on large systems.)
|
coder (More informal; focuses on the act of writing code rather than the full development process.)
Antonyms
user (A user operates software, while a programmer creates or changes the software.)
Collocations
computer programmer
|software programmer
|web programmer
|game programmer
|experienced programmer
|professional programmer
Themes
technology
|work
|internet
Examples
- She works as a programmer at a small startup that builds mobile apps.
- The company is looking for a programmer who knows both Java and Python.
- As a freelance programmer, he writes custom tools for different clients around the world.
- Good programmers not only write code but also document and test their work carefully.
- The game was created by a team of artists, designers, and programmers.
Learner examples
- My brother is a programmer at a big tech company.
- The programmer fixed a bug in the code.
- I want to become a programmer and make phone apps.
- Two programmers worked together on the new website.
- She is the only programmer in that small office.
Noun
C1
entity
2
person who plans shows or events
A person who chooses and plans what movies, shows, or events people will see or hear.
Usage pattern:
[someone] works as a programmer for [a channel / a festival]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think this meaning is about writing computer code because they only know the technology sense. Context words like "festival", "film", "TV", or "radio" usually signal this media meaning.
Synonyms
curator (Similar in arts and film contexts, but "curator" is slightly more formal and often linked to museums and galleries.)
|
scheduler (Focuses more on the timing and order rather than on artistic or content choices.)
Antonyms
performer (A performer appears in the show or event, while a programmer works behind the scenes deciding what is presented.)
Collocations
festival programmer
|film programmer
|TV programmer
|radio programmer
|lead programmer for the festival
Themes
media
|arts
|work
|arts_entertainment
|communication
Examples
- The festival programmer watched over 300 films before choosing the final selection.
- As a TV programmer, she has to balance news, drama, and entertainment throughout the week.
- The radio station hired a new programmer to update its evening music lineup.
- The museum worked closely with an external programmer to plan its summer film series.
- He is a respected programmer for several international documentary festivals.
Learner examples
- The film festival programmer chose twenty films for the main program.
- She works as a TV programmer at a national channel.
- The radio programmer changes the music list every month.
- A good festival programmer needs to understand the audience.
- The programmer decided which movies would play at night.
unknown
technical
C1
entity
3
device that programs other devices
A special tool that you use to put instructions or settings into another electronic device.
Usage pattern:
[someone] uses a programmer to configure [a device]
Common mistake:
Learners often assume "programmer" always means a person. In technical manuals, however, it can also refer to a physical device used to program other hardware.
Synonyms
programming unit (A more formal technical term, often used in product descriptions or manuals.)
Antonyms
manual control (Using switches or dials directly on the device instead of a separate electronic programmer.)
Collocations
chip programmer
|universal programmer
|microcontroller programmer
|timer programmer
Themes
technology
|engineering
|science
Examples
- The technician connected the chip to a programmer to upload the new firmware.
- You need a dedicated programmer to change the settings on this type of microcontroller.
- This irrigation system includes a wall-mounted programmer for setting daily watering times.
- The electrician used a handheld programmer to adjust all the smart lights in the building.
- Our lab shares one universal programmer that works with several different boards.
Learner examples
- The engineer used a programmer to load software onto the chip.
- This watering system has a small programmer on the wall.
- You need a special programmer for this smart lock.
- He bought a new programmer to fix the control board.
- The device does not work until you connect it to a programmer.
Grammar
Dictionary form
programmer
IPA
GB/pɹˈoʊɡɹˌæmɚ/
US/pɹˈoʊɡɹˌæmɚ/
Syllables & stress
pro - gram - mer (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (pro)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: programmer
- Plural: programmers
Word family
Forms
programmers
noun
Core family
program
noun A2
programming
noun B1
Related words
programmable
adjective
Advanced or less common
programmatic
adjective
programmatically
adverb
Expressions
computer programmer
1/kəmpjˈutɚ pɹˈoʊɡɹˌæmɚ/
fixed phrase
person who writes computer software
A person whose job is to write programs for computers.
Examples
- She works as a computer programmer in a multinational company.
- Many computer programmers learn several programming languages during their careers.
- The course is designed for new computer programmers who want real project experience.
festival programmer
1/fˈɛstɪvəl pɹˈoʊɡɹˌæmɚ/
fixed phrase
person who selects works for a festival
A person who chooses and plans which films, plays, or events will be shown at a festival.
Examples
- The festival programmer received thousands of film submissions this year.
- As a festival programmer, she looks for bold new voices in cinema.
- He started as a volunteer and later became a festival programmer.
film programmer
1/fˈɪlm pɹˈoʊɡɹˌæmɚ/
fixed phrase
person who chooses films to show
A person who decides which movies a cinema or festival will show and when.
Examples
- The film programmer created a special series of classic horror movies.
- She works as a film programmer for an art-house cinema.
- The museum invited a guest film programmer to plan its winter screenings.
game programmer
1/ɡˈeɪm pɹˈoʊɡɹˌæmɚ/
fixed phrase
person who codes video games
A programmer who writes the code that makes video games work.
Examples
- He became a game programmer because he loved video games as a child.
- The studio employs artists, designers, and game programmers.
- As a game programmer, she focuses on character movement and physics.
radio programmer
1/ɹˈeɪdioʊ pɹˈoʊɡɹˌæmɚ/
fixed phrase
person who plans radio shows and music
A person who chooses which shows or songs will play on the radio and at what times.
Examples
- The radio programmer changed the station's morning playlist.
- She worked as a radio programmer before becoming a show host.
- Local radio programmers often adjust their schedules during holidays.
software programmer
1/sˈɔftwˌɛɹ pɹˈoʊɡɹˌæmɚ/
fixed phrase
person who writes software applications
A programmer who writes and looks after software programs.
Examples
- The company needs a software programmer with experience in financial systems.
- As a junior software programmer, he mostly fixes small bugs.
- She started as a software programmer and later became a project manager.
systems programmer
1/sˈɪstəmz pɹˈoʊɡɹˌæmɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
developer of operating systems and low-level tools
A programmer who works on operating systems and other basic software that other programs use.
Examples
- The bank employs systems programmers to maintain the core transaction platform.
- As a systems programmer, he writes code that manages memory and hardware.
- They are looking for an experienced systems programmer to optimize the server software.
TV programmer
1/tˈi vˈi pɹˈoʊɡɹˌæmɚ/
fixed phrase
person who plans TV schedules
A person who decides which TV shows will play and at what time on a TV channel.
Examples
- The TV programmer moved the show to a later time slot.
- As a TV programmer, he studies ratings to decide where to place new series.
- A good TV programmer understands when people are most likely to watch certain kinds of shows.
web programmer
1/wˈɛb pɹˈoʊɡɹˌæmɚ/
fixed phrase
person who codes websites
A programmer who writes code for websites and online apps.
Examples
- They hired a web programmer to rebuild their online store.
- As a freelance web programmer, she works for clients in many countries.
- The company is looking for a web programmer who knows JavaScript frameworks.