interrupter

noun

in·​ter·​rupt·​er ˌin-tə-ˈrəp-tər How to pronounce interrupter (audio)
variants or less commonly interruptor
Synonyms of interrupternext
: one that interrupts
especially : a device for interrupting an electric current usually automatically

Examples of interrupter 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.
In my experience, the interrupter will pause and look toward you, which is your opportunity to chime back in. — Jessica Chen, CNBC, 15 May 2026 Rinehart said community violence interrupters have been doing the work for decades. — Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026 Because in the eyes of a powerful legal system that is either unwilling or afraid to upset the status quo, Hill was but a brief interrupter. — Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 1 July 2026 Use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), available from hardware stores. — Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for interrupter

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1512, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of interrupter was circa 1512

Browse Nearby Words

interrupted screw
interrupter
interruptible
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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