defroster

noun

de·​frost·​er di-ˈfrȯ-stər How to pronounce defroster (audio)
ˈdē-ˌfrȯ-
plural defrosters
: a person or thing that defrosts something
She was a cook. I was an opener of cans, a defroster of TV dinners.—Bernie Schiffer
especially : a device or system designed to heat a window or windshield of a vehicle for the purpose of removing accumulated ice or moisture
The rear window defroster worked well in the center, but it needs more grid lines for full coverage. —Consumer Reports
Their breath fogged the windshield immediately, and Gus slowed to a crawl on the winding street, reaching down to adjust the wipers and the defroster. —Frank Conroy

Examples of defroster in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Instead, warm up your car and turn on its defrosters. — Charles Singh, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026 The front defroster releases a blast of warm air right under the windshield, drying any condensation and melting snow and ice. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 28 June 2026 Allowing the defroster to run for several minutes before removing ice makes the process safer and more effective, according to AAA Texas. — Dallas Morning News, 27 Jan. 2026 But there’s still a lot to make heat pumps better–closing up leaks in heat exchangers, controlling the speed of compressors, setting up defrosters to only defrost when needed, and even testing out how placing thermostats and other equipment in the home can impact a heat pump’s efficiency. — Sara Kiley Watson, Popular Science, 2 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for defroster

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of defroster was in 1903

Rhymes for defroster

See All Rhymes for defroster

Browse Nearby Words

defrost
defroster
deft
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Defroster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defroster. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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