Meaning & use
debater
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Meanings
nouncountable
Someone who takes part in a formal discussion where people argue for or against a topic.
Grammar: Countable: one debater, two debaters. Often used with 'good' or 'skilled'.
Patterns
- a good debater
- a skilled debater
- a debater on a team
She was the best debater on her school team.
As a debater, he always stays calm and listens carefully.
nouncountable
A person who argues about a subject in a general way, not necessarily in a formal competition.
Grammar: Countable; often used in the plural to mean people who argue.
Patterns
- a great debater
- a political debater
The two politicians are experienced debaters.
He's a lively debater who enjoys a good argument.
Word forms
| plural | debaters |
|---|
Common combinations
- a skilled debater
- A skilled debater can change people's minds.
- a political debater
- She is a sharp political debater.
- a team of debaters
- The school sent a team of debaters to the competition.
- a debater argues that
- The debater argued that the law should be changed.
Synonyms and how they differ
- arguer
- Someone who argues, often in an informal or unpleasant way; 'debater' suggests a more organized, formal exchange of views.
- orator
- A skilled public speaker; a debater may also speak well, but the focus is on arguing a case, not on style.
Word family
Commonly confused: debater or debtor?
debater vs debtor
A debtor is a person who owes money. Debater is about arguing in a discussion; the words sound somewhat similar but have completely different meanings.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'debater' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Debater' is a noun for a person who debates, so option 1 fits. Option 0 describes a debtor, option 2 wrongly uses 'debater' as a verb, and option 3 confuses it with a bell.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “debater”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.