washer
gb/wˈɔʃɚ/ us/wˈɔʃɚ/
A2
English
~ 9500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
machine for washing clothes
A machine in the home that you use to wash clothes with water and soap.
Usage pattern:
put [clothes] in the washer
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "washer" always means "a person who washes". In modern everyday English, especially in American English, "washer" on its own very often means a clothes washing machine. Learners may also confuse "washer" with "dishwasher"; note that a dishwasher is a different machine for washing dishes, not clothes.
Synonyms
washing machine (The standard full term; slightly more formal and explicit than the shorter word "washer".)
|
laundry machine (Less common and slightly more technical-sounding; often used in instructions or advertising.)
Antonyms
dryer (Performs the opposite main function—drying clothes instead of washing them—often mentioned as the paired opposite appliance.)
Collocations
load the washer
|empty the washer
|run the washer
|front-loading washer
|top-loading washer
|washer and dryer
Themes
home
|daily life
|daily_life
|housing
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Our washer broke yesterday, so we have to go to the laundromat.
- She threw the dirty uniforms in the washer before dinner.
- This apartment comes with a new washer and dryer.
- The washer is full, so wait for the next load.
- Don’t overload the washer or it might stop mid-cycle.
Learner examples
- I put my clothes in the washer.
- The washer is in the bathroom.
- Our washer is very old.
- We run the washer twice a week.
- The washer is making a strange noise.
Noun
B2
entity
2
flat ring used with bolts
A small, flat ring made of metal or rubber that you put under a screw, bolt, or tap part to hold it tight or stop water leaking.
Usage pattern:
put a washer on [a bolt/screw]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this meaning with the machine that washes clothes. In technical or DIY contexts, especially with words like "bolt", "nut", or "tap", "washer" almost always means the small flat ring, not a washing machine.
Synonyms
gasket (Similar part used to seal joints, especially in engines or pipes; often thicker or shaped to fit larger surfaces than a simple washer.)
Collocations
rubber washer
|metal washer
|replace the washer
|bolt and washer
|fit a washer
|leaking tap washer
Themes
construction
|engineering
|tools
|work
|technology
Examples
- You need a washer between the nut and the surface so it doesn’t damage the wood.
- The tap keeps dripping; we should replace the rubber washer inside it.
- Use a larger washer to spread the load over a wider area.
- The kit includes screws, nuts, and washers for easy installation.
- A worn-out washer in the valve was causing the leak.
Learner examples
- The tap is leaking because the washer is old.
- He put a washer on the screw before tightening it.
- I bought new washers at the hardware store.
- The mechanic changed a small rubber washer in the engine.
- Use a washer so the bolt does not cut into the metal.
Noun
B1
entity
3
person whose job is washing
A person who is paid to wash things, for example windows or cars.
Usage pattern:
[type of thing] washer
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes try to say "*clothes washer" to mean a person doing laundry; in modern English this usually refers to a machine. For a person, it is more natural to say "someone who does the laundry" or "laundry worker". Also, many specific jobs use different words, like "dishwasher" (person) in a restaurant or "cleaner".
Synonyms
cleaner (A broader and more common term for someone who cleans; it does not specifically focus on washing with water.)
Collocations
window washer
|car washer
|fruit washer
|hotel linen washer
Themes
jobs
|daily life
|work
|daily_life
Examples
- The window washers were hanging from ropes thirty floors up.
- He got a part-time job as a car washer at the gas station.
- Factory washers clean the bottles before they are filled.
- The company hired professional window washers for the new office building.
- As a teenager, she worked as a washer in a hotel laundry room.
Learner examples
- The window washer is cleaning the glass.
- My brother works as a car washer.
- The restaurant pays a washer to clean all the plates.
- Two washers clean the hotel towels every day.
- A window washer climbed up the side of the tall building.
Grammar
Dictionary form
washer
IPA
GB/wˈɔʃɚ/
US/wˈɔʃɚ/
Syllables & stress
wash - er (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (wash)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: washer
- Plural: washers
Word family
Forms
washers
noun
Core family
wash
verb A1
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
unwashed
adjective
unwashable
adjective
Expressions
car washer
1/kˈɑɹ wˈɔʃɚ/
fixed phrase
person who washes cars
A person who washes cars, usually at a car wash or gas station, as their job.
Examples
- He started out as a car washer and later became a mechanic.
- The car washers were busy all weekend after the snow melted.
power washer
1/pˈaʊɚ wˈɔʃɚ/
fixed phrase
machine for power washing surfaces
Another word for a pressure washer; a machine that cleans using very strong water spray.
Examples
- The deck looks new after we went over it with a power washer.
- He keeps a power washer in the garage for cleaning the siding.
pressure washer
1/pɹˈɛʃɚ wˈɔʃɚ/
fixed phrase
high-pressure water cleaning machine
A machine that sprays water very strongly to clean things like walls, floors, and cars.
Examples
- He rented a pressure washer to clean the driveway.
- Use a pressure washer to remove the moss from the patio.
washer and dryer
1/wˈɔʃɚ ˈænd dɹˈaɪɚ/
fixed phrase
washing machine plus clothes dryer
A washer and a dryer together, usually in a home or apartment.
Examples
- The apartment comes with a washer and dryer in the unit.
- We’re looking for a house that has a washer and dryer in the basement.
window washer
1/wˈɪndoʊ wˈɔʃɚ/
fixed phrase
person who washes windows
A person who is paid to clean windows, often on tall buildings.
Examples
- The window washers started on the north side of the tower this morning.
- She worked as a window washer during the summer break.