What does sorter mean?
A sorter is a person, machine, or program that puts things into order. It may classify objects by type, size, condition, or another criterion, as a waste sorter separates recyclable materials or a mail sorter directs letters toward delivery routes. The word can also refer to a person who performs such work. In computing, a sorter is software that rearranges records according to user-defined conditions, such as alphabetical order or numerical value. Although “sorter” sometimes suggests merely placing things in sequence, its broader implication is systematic classification: the sorter imposes a consistent structure on a collection of otherwise separate items. The term is especially useful in technical, industrial, administrative, and educational contexts.
nounA sorter is a person, device, or piece of software that arranges items into groups or puts them in a particular order. The word can also refer more generally to someone who classifies or organizes things.
- A device or machine that sorts objects into categories or sequences.
- A person whose work is to classify, arrange, or order items.
- A computer program or application that organizes records according to specified criteria.
"A postal sorter directs each letter toward the correct delivery route."
"The new sorting machine can process thousands of parcels in an hour."
"She acted as the school librarian and sorter of confiscated devices."
"Use the spreadsheet's sorter to arrange the results by date."
The plural is formed by adding -s; “sorters” may refer to multiple people or machines that perform sorting.
"The factory installed four new sorters to handle increased parcel volumes."
From mailing systems to recycling plants, sorters turn disorder into order one group at a time.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sorter come from?
The word “sorter” was formed within English by adding the agentive suffix -er to the verb “sort,” meaning to arrange or classify. “Sort” comes through Old French sort from Latin sortiri, “to arrange, separate, or choose out.” The same Latin root appears in related English words such as “assort,” “consort,” and “resort,” although their modern meanings have developed considerably.
Related word forms
How sorter is actually used
The word is common in technical and occupational contexts. When referring to software, “sorter” is generally more informal than “sorting utility.”
Easily confused with sorter
A sort is the act of arranging items or the category into which something is placed, whereas a sorter is the person or device that performs that task.