caller

¹

[ kaw-ler ]

noun

1. a person or thing that calls.
2. a person who makes a short visit.
3. Dance. a person who directs the movements of dancers, as at a hoedown or square dance, by calling out the successive figures as the music plays.

caller

²

[ kal-er, kah-ler ]

adjective

, Scot. and North England.

1. (of fruit, fish, vegetables, etc.) fresh; recently picked or caught.
2. refreshing.

caller

¹

/ ˈkɔːlə /

noun

1. a person or thing that calls, esp a person who makes a brief visit
2. a racing commentator

caller

²

/ ˈkɒlər; ˈkælə; ˈkælər /

adjective

1. (of food, esp fish) fresh
2. cool

   a caller breeze

Word History and Origins

Origin of caller¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English. See call, -er ¹

Origin of caller²

1325–75; Middle English, north. variant of calver fresh, alive (said of fish) < ?

Word History and Origins

Origin of caller¹

C14: perhaps a Scottish variant of calver to prepare fresh salmon or trout in a certain way; perhaps from Old English calwer curds, from a fancied resemblance with the flaked flesh of the fish

Synonym Study

See visitor.

Example Sentences

The callers disconnected the line after transfer was completed.

From BBC

A 911 caller reported an “explosion” related to a battery issue, he said.

From Los Angeles Times

I was naively hopeful they could use it to quickly trace the caller and arrest the man.

From BBC

A 911 caller said they believed that somebody was shot and asked for help, Los Angeles Fire Department officials said.

From Los Angeles Times

Cardi B vows to take legal and physical action against the prank caller who called child protective services to her home.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• guest

More About Caller

What is a basic definition of caller?

A caller is a person who calls, a person who makes a short visit, or a person who shouts out directions.

By far, the most common use of caller is in the sense of a person who calls someone, especially using a phone. In the past, a person would hear from callers using wired telephones but today cell phones and smartphones are much more common.

• Real-life examples: Radio shows and podcasts might take questions from callers. A service known as caller ID identifies on a screen who is calling so you can avoid answering unwanted calls (be sure to answer when it’s your mom!). A dog will often run toward a caller using its name.
• Used in a sentence: My favorite podcast always ends with a Q&A session with callers.

Less commonly, caller means a guest or a person who makes a short visit. This usage was more common before the widespread use of telephones, but it is still sometimes used to refer to formal visits. Sometimes, caller specifically meant that the person was a date or a romantic partner.

• Used in a sentence: My house was a mess because I didn’t expect so many callers to come over today.

Caller can also mean a person whose job is to shout directions or instructions, such as a person directing a square dance or a person calling out numbers in a game of bingo.

• Used in a sentence: My heart was racing as I waited for the caller to shout “B5,” the last number I needed to win.

Where does caller come from?

The first records of caller come from around 1400. It comes from late Middle English and is a noun formed from the verb sense of the word call.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to caller?

• call (verb)

What are some synonyms for caller?

• guest
• visitor

What are some words that share a root or word element with caller? 

• call
• caller ID
• name-caller

What are some words that often get used in discussing caller?

• telephone
• cell phone
• smartphone
• telemarketer
• prank
• radio
• podcast

What are some words caller may be commonly confused with?

• collar

How is caller used in real life?

Caller is a common word that most often means a person who is using a phone to call someone.

Update! Mary has been FOUND SAFE. Thank you to the 911 caller who saw her standing on a corner and called. #everydayhero #minneapolisproud

— Minneapolis Police (@MinneapolisPD) February 22, 2017

When an unknown caller calls in the movies it’s always something super juicy and exciting.

For me an unknown caller means my extended warranty has run out on my car.

— SaraBeth (@SBSwags) January 30, 2021

John Elway and John Fox are set to take questions from callers.

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) May 15, 2012

Try using caller!

Is caller used correctly in the following sentence?

I turn my phone off at night so my sleep isn’t interrupted by latenight callers.