# pointer

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈpɔɪn.tə/ · frequency rank #12,657

## Definitions
1. Anything that points or is used for pointing.
2. Anything that points or is used for pointing.
3. Anything that points or is used for pointing.
4. Anything that points or is used for pointing.
5. Anything that points or is used for pointing.
6. Anything that points or is used for pointing.
7. A tip, a bit of advice.
8. Something that gives a point (sharp end) to something.
9. Something worth a given number of points.

## Etymology
From point + -er (agent noun suffix) or + -er (measurement suffix) (sense 4).

## Easily confused with
- **Ponte** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pointer-vs-ponte)
- **points** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pointer-vs-points)
- **poster** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pointer-vs-poster)
- **potter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pointer-vs-potter)
- **porter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pointer-vs-porter)
- **ponder** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pointer-vs-ponder)
- **pointy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pointer-vs-pointy)
- **punter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pointer-vs-punter)
- **Posner** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pointer-vs-posner)
- **printed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pointer-vs-printed)
- **printer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pointer-vs-printer)
- **pounder** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pointer-vs-pounder)
- **point** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/point-vs-pointer)
- **pointe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pointe-vs-pointer)
- **pinter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pinter-vs-pointer)
- **pointed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pointed-vs-pointer)
- **painted** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/painted-vs-pointer)
- **painter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/painter-vs-pointer)
- **planter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/planter-vs-pointer)
- **painters** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/painters-vs-pointer)

## Common misspellings (10)
`opinter`, `pionter`, `poinetr`, `poinnter`, `pointerr`, `pointre`, `pointter`, `poitner`, `poniter`, `ppointer`

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