What does interviewer mean?
An interviewer is a person who asks questions as part of an interview. The role occurs in journalism, broadcasting, academic research, employment, and other settings in which one person gathers information from another. The word can refer to a television presenter conducting a public conversation, a reporter questioning a source, or a member of a hiring panel assessing an applicant. Although an interview is formally described as a conversation, the interviewer usually helps structure it by preparing questions, directing the exchange, and inviting the other participant to elaborate. The term is distinct from “interrogator,” which often implies a more forceful or official questioning, and from “interviewee,” who provides the responses. Understanding the distinction is useful because public discussions often refer to the quality of an interview as a whole while focusing criticism on the person asking the questions.
nounA person who asks questions of another person in an interview, especially in journalism, broadcasting, research, or employment.
- A person who conducts an interview by asking questions, particularly in journalism, broadcasting, research, or a job-selection process.
"The interviewer asked each candidate about her experience and motivation."
"The interviewer began with a question about the candidate’s previous work."
"Viewers criticized the interviewer for interrupting the guest several times."
The regular plural is used when referring to more than one person who conducts interviews.
"The two interviewers began the panel with the same opening question."
Every interview is a two-sided conversation: the interviewer asks, but the conversation belongs to the interviewee.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does interviewer come from?
The word “interviewer” was formed in the 16th century by adding the agent suffix -er to “interview.” The English verb “interview” came through French from Latin inter, meaning “between” or “among,” and videre, meaning “to see.” The Latin sense referred to viewing something between people, such as holding a meeting or examining a matter together, before the verb came to mean questioning someone for information. Related English words such as “view,” “survey,” “visible,” and “supervise” ultimately share the Latin root videre.
How interviewer is actually used
The term is neutral across professional and everyday contexts. In formal research, an interviewer is often treated as part of a study team and follows questions intended to minimize bias or influence.
Easily confused with interviewer
An interviewer asks the questions, while an interviewee is the person who answers them.