What does attempter mean?
An attempter is a person who makes an attempt at something — typically a difficult, ambitious, or risky undertaking such as climbing a mountain, breaking a record, or completing a gruelling challenge. The word is formed from the verb 'attempt', which traces back through Old French 'atempter' to the Latin 'attemptare', meaning to test or strive after. Although straightforward in meaning, 'attempter' remains relatively uncommon in everyday English: speakers usually prefer constructions like 'the person attempting the crossing' or compound forms such as 'record attempter'. Where it does appear, it often carries a neutral-to-admiring tone, foregrounding effort and initiative rather than success. It can also appear in legal contexts, where an attempter is someone who has tried but failed to commit an offence. The word's value lies in its emphasis on the trying itself rather than the outcome.
A person who attempts something, especially a difficult or ambitious task or feat.
"Each attempter of the marathon route must register before dawn."
Somewhat formal; often used in compounds such as 'record attempter'.
In legal usage, one who commits or is charged with an attempted offence rather than its completed form.
"The jury convicted him not as a murderer but as an attempter of the crime."
Regular plural formation with '-s'.
"The competition attracted dozens of first-time attempters."
Every record-breaker starts as just another attempter — the word quietly celebrates the try, not the triumph.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of attempter
Attempter derives from the verb 'attempt', which entered Middle English from Old French 'atempter', ultimately from Latin 'attemptare' ('to test, endeavour'), a frequentative of 'attentare', built on 'ad-' ('to, toward') plus 'tentare' ('to touch, try'). The agent noun suffix '-er' was added in English to denote one who performs the action. Its closest relatives are the verb 'attempt' itself and, more distantly, words sharing the Latin root 'tentare', such as 'tempt' and 'temptation'.
Related word forms
How attempter is actually used
Relatively rare and somewhat formal; 'person who attempts' or phrases like 'record attempter' are more common in everyday usage. In legal register it can denote one guilty of an attempted offence.
Easily confused with attempter
A 'tempter' is someone who entices others into wrongdoing, while an 'attempter' is simply one who tries to do something.