simulator
Americannoun
-
a person or thing that simulates.
-
a machine for simulating certain environmental and other conditions for purposes of training or experimentation.
a flight simulator.
noun
-
any device or system that simulates specific conditions or the characteristics of a real process or machine for the purposes of research or operator training
space simulator
-
a person who simulates
Usage
What does simulator mean? A simulator is a program or machine that simulates a real-life situation, meaning that it creates a virtual version of it, often for the purpose of instruction or experiment, such as a flight simulator.Simulators are frequently used to train people in complicated and often dangerous tasks, such as performing surgery or flying an airplane. Simulators allow them to learn and gain experience in such tasks without the risks. Rarely, the word is also sometimes used to refer to a person who is simulating (faking) an action.Example: This flight simulator allows pilots to become comfortable with the controls without having to do so during an actual flight.
Etymology
Origin of simulator
First recorded in 1825–35, simulator is from the Latin word simulātor imitator, counterfeiter. See simulate, -tor
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He has been saying similar things not just since the start of this season, but since he first tried the 2026 cars in the simulator a couple of years ago.
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
Last week he took part in a TGL simulator indoor golf event and had talked about a possible return at the Masters.
From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026
Woods hasn’t played in a competitive tournament since the Open at Royal Troon in 2024, but he’d been practicing and appeared in a match at his TGL simulator league just a few days before.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026
He competed earlier this week in the TGL simulator indoor golf league finals and had not ruled out playing in next month's Masters.
From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026
No person, and no simulator, could give us exact answers to these questions.
From "Flying to the Moon: An Astronaut's Story" by Michael Collins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
