# computer

> English word · Noun · IPA /kəmˈpjuːtə/ · frequency rank #1,136

## Definitions
1. A programmable electronic device that performs mathematical calculations and logical operations, especially one that can process, store and retrieve large amounts of data very quickly; now especially, a small one for personal or home use employed for manipulating text or graphics, accessing the Internet, or playing games or media.
2. A person employed to perform computations; one who computes.
3. A person employed to perform computations; one who computes.

## Etymology
From compute + -er. Doublet of cantore, counter, and kontor. First sense first appears c. 1613 in the works of the poet Richard Brathwait. Second sense first appears c. 1897 in the magazine Engineering.

## Easily confused with
- **computers** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/computer-vs-computers)
- **compete** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compete-vs-computer)
- **commute** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/commute-vs-computer)
- **compute** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compute-vs-computer)
- **composer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/composer-vs-computer)
- **competed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/competed-vs-computer)
- **commuter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/commuter-vs-computer)
- **compiler** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/compiler-vs-computer)
- **computed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/computed-vs-computer)
- **competes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/competes-vs-computer)

## Common misspellings (12)
`ccomputer`, `cmoputer`, `commputer`, `compputer`, `comptuer`, `compuetr`, `computerr`, `computre`, `computter`, `comupter`, `copmuter`, `ocmputer`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/computer