What does setters mean?
“Setters” is the ordinary plural of “setter,” but the word has several established areas of use. Most generally, it means people who put, arrange, fix, or assign something: typesetters arranged type, market setters established prices, and volleyball setters direct the attack toward teammates. A setter can also denote a device or mechanism that positions or fixes a component, so the plural may refer to machines rather than workers. A further familiar sense is the plural used for dogs of the setter breeds, gun dogs traditionally trained to indicate the location of game. The form is fully standard in British and American English rather than a regionalism, although its meaning depends heavily on context. When used without qualification in sporting coverage, “setters” usually refers to volleyball players in the rotation’s primary passing role; in typography, it points to historical or specialist practitioners. Despite sounding ordinary, “setters” is useful because it joins human agents, technical devices, and a well-known type of dog within one flexible English word family.
nounThe plural of setter, used for people or devices that place, arrange, fix, or assign something, and also for dogs of the setter breeds.
- People who place, arrange, fix, or assign something, especially occupational roles such as typesetter, price setter, or volleyball setter.
- Devices or machines that position, fix, or adjust something.
- Dogs belonging to the setter breeds, traditionally trained to indicate the location of game.
"The club's two setters practiced their timing before the tournament."
"The typesetters adjusted the spacing before the final pages were printed."
"Their setters sent quick passes to the middle attacker throughout the match."
“Setters” is the regular plural of “setter”; the singular form is “setter.”
"Several setters contributed to the report."
Before digital publishing, typesetters arranged every line by hand, making the layout of a single page a painstaking craft.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of setters
The word “setter” was formed in English by adding the productive agentive suffix -er to “set,” expressing the idea of one who or that which sets something. Its occupational and mechanical uses developed from this broad meaning, while the name of setter dogs refers to the birds they traditionally indicated or “set.” The same English base underlies “set,” “setting,” “settable,” and “typesetter,” although these words acquired distinct functions in different domains.
Related word forms
How setters is actually used
The unqualified plural is strongly context-dependent, especially in sport, where it often refers to volleyball players who direct the attack toward teammates. The occupational sense associated with typesetting now sounds old-fashioned, while the other senses remain current.
Easily confused with setters
Setters place, arrange, or assign something, whereas settlers establish a place or community in which to live.