# trigger

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈtɹɪɡə/ · frequency rank #4,723

## Definitions
1. A finger-operated lever used to fire a gun.
2. A similar device used to activate any mechanism.
3. An event that initiates others, or incites a response.
4. A concept or image that upsets somebody by sparking a negative emotional response.
5. An event, experience or other stimulus that initiates a traumatic memory or a strong reaction in a person.
6. An electronic transducer allowing a drum, cymbal, etc. to control an electronic drum unit or similar device.
7. A device that manually lengthens (or sometimes shortens) the slide or tubing of a brass instrument, allowing the pitch range to be altered while playing.
8. A pulse in an electronic circuit that initiates some component.
9. An SQL procedure that may be initiated when a record is inserted, updated or deleted; typically used to maintain referential integrity.
10. A catch to hold the wheel of a carriage on a declivity.
11. An argument whose semantic role determines the choice of a verbal affix, in certain Austronesian languages.

## Etymology
Originally tricker, from Dutch trekker (“pull”, noun, as in drawer-pull, bell-pull), from Dutch trekken (“to drag, draw, pull”).

## Easily confused with
- **trimmer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/trigger-vs-trimmer)
- **triggered** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/trigger-vs-triggered)
- **tiger** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tiger-vs-trigger)
- **trier** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/trier-vs-trigger)
- **triage** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/triage-vs-trigger)
- **Tigger** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tigger-vs-trigger)

## Common misspellings (9)
`rtigger`, `tirgger`, `trgiger`, `trigegr`, `triger`, `triggerr`, `triggre`, `trrigger`, `ttrigger`

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