Agency Dictionary

E-reader

nounPronunciation: /ˈiːˌriː.dər/

In Portuguese: E-reader

What does “E-reader” mean?

A specialized electronic handheld device designed primarily for reading digital books and periodicals.

Etymology

A compound of the prefix e-, short for electronic, and reader. The prefix became productive in the 1990s on the model of e-mail, giving e-book, e-commerce and many others. E-reader, first also in the longer form e-book reader, spread in the 2000s, when handheld devices with electronic paper screens made for reading digital books reached the general market. Reader itself comes from Old English, from the verb read.

Usage note

Written with a hyphen in most dictionaries; ereader and eReader also occur. The word names the device, not the app or the person who reads.

Synonyms

e-book reader
ebook reader
reading device

Word family

e-book
e-reading
reader
e-ink

Usage examples

It is crucial to consider new technologies and new formats of reading, such as audiobooks and e-readers.

Concept

Inclusive ReadingInclusive reading is an educational, cultural, and social movement that seeks to ensure every person, regardless of socioeconomic background, sensory disability, or…

Source editions

Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.

Creative.6 - Suelen VianaJuly 10, 2023Read the edition

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Also from these editions: terms

Audiobooknoun: An audio recording of the narration of a book, enabling listening through digital playback devices.
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Paperbacknoun: A book bound with a flexible paper or cardstock cover rather than rigid boards.
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