Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person skilled in writing shorthand: A stenographer is someone who is trained to write using a special system of abbreviations or symbols to record speech very quickly, especially during dictation or live proceedings.
   • A court or conference reporter: In professional contexts, a stenographer often refers to a person who creates official verbatim transcripts of legal trials, hearings, or business meetings.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The lawyer hired a stenographer to record every word of the deposition.
  • Before voice recorders were common, a stenographer was essential for taking minutes at the board meeting.

Advanced Usage

• "Court stenographer": A specific term for a stenographer who works in a legal setting, operating a stenotype machine to capture court proceedings.
  • The court stenographer provided the official transcript of the trial.

Variants and Related Words

• Stenography (n): The art or process of writing in shorthand.
  • She studied stenography to become a legal secretary.
• Stenotype (n): A specialized machine used by stenographers for shorthand typing.
  • The stenographer's fingers flew over the stenotype keys.

Synonyms

• Shorthand typist: A person who types using shorthand.
• Court reporter: A stenographer who records legal proceedings.
• Amanuensis (formal): A literary or artistic assistant, especially one who takes dictation.

Related Phrases

• Take dictation: To write down what someone says as they are speaking.
  • Her first job was to take dictation from the company director.

Noun

1. someone skilled in the transcription of speech (especially dictation)