dishwasher

IPA/ˈdɪʃwɒʃə(r)/
KK[dˈɪʃwˌɑʃɚ]IPA/ˈdɪʃwɔːʃər/

dishwasher — noun

  • dishwashersingular
  • dishwashersplural

1. a large kitchen appliance that uses water and soap to clean plates, cups, and co

1.nounA2
Definition

a large kitchen appliance that uses water and soap to clean plates, cups, and cooking tools automatically

Example

After a big meal, Caleb loaded the dishwasher and turned it on.

load + the dishwasher

The dishwasher at our apartment broke down, so the landlord ordered a new one.

broke down / be replaced

Common collocations
  • load the dishwasher
  • unload the dishwasher
  • run the dishwasher
  • dishwasher detergent
  • dishwasher tablet
  • top rack / bottom rack of the dishwasher
  • dishwasher-safe
Synonyms
  • dish-washing machine

    less common, more descriptive; used mainly in product descriptions or technical contexts

Grammar Patterns

load + the dishwasher

run + the dishwasher

dishwasher + break down

Usage Note

Most often refers to the appliance built into a home kitchen. Common verbs used with this sense are 'load', 'unload', 'run', and 'fix'.

Common Mistakes

I need to wash the dishwasher.
I need to run the dishwasher.
You run (operate) a dishwasher to clean the dishes inside it, not wash the machine itself.
Please put the cups in the dish-washing machine.
Please put the cups in the dishwasher.
'Dishwasher' is a single compound word, not two separate words.

2. a worker who cleans plates, pots, and cooking tools in a commercial kitchen, suc

2.nounB1
Definition

a worker who cleans plates, pots, and cooking tools in a commercial kitchen, such as at a restaurant or hotel

Example

Gabriel worked as a dishwasher at a busy Italian restaurant during his summer break.

worked as a dishwasher

The head chef started her career as a dishwasher and learned by watching the cooks.

started as a dishwasher / career path

Common collocations
  • work as a dishwasher
  • hire a dishwasher
  • job as a dishwasher
  • start as a dishwasher
  • head dishwasher
Synonyms
  • plongeur

    French culinary term used in professional kitchens; very rare in everyday English

  • pot washer

    informal British term that emphasizes cleaning pots and pans rather than plates

  • kitchen porter

    UK term for a general kitchen assistant whose duties include washing dishes

Grammar Patterns

work as + a dishwasher

hire + a dishwasher

Usage Note

This sense is countable and refers to a specific job position. It is most commonly used in the context of restaurants, hotels, and large cafeterias. Unlike the machine sense, this sense is less frequent in everyday home conversation.

Common Mistakes

The restaurant needs a new dishwasher.' (ambiguous)
The restaurant needs to hire a new dishwasher.
Adding 'hire' or 'work as' makes it clear you mean the worker, not the machine.

Word family

  • dishwashing
    nounB1
  • dish
    nounA1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Dishwasher' is the standard, everyday term for the kitchen appliance that cleans dishes automatically. 'Dish-washing machine' is a longer, more literal phrase that appears occasionally in product manuals or when someone is describing the appliance to a non-native speaker, but it is rarely used in natural conversation. No other common synonyms compete with 'dishwasher' for the machine sense. For the worker sense, 'dishwasher' itself competes with 'pot washer' (informal UK), 'kitchen porter' (UK — broader duties), and 'plongeur' (formal French kitchen term). In practice, if you hear 'dishwasher' in a restaurant context, you need to rely on surrounding verbs — 'hire a dishwasher' or 'work as a dishwasher' — to know it means the person, not the machine.

dishwasher ↗dish-washing machine

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

'Dishwasher' is a compound of 'dish' (from Old English 'disc,' meaning a plate or bowl) and 'washer' (from Old English 'wæscan,' meaning to clean with water). The word first appeared in English to describe a person employed to wash dishes. When the automatic dish-washing machine was invented in the late 19th century, the same word was adopted for the appliance. Both senses have remained in use ever since.