plotter

IPA/ˈplɒtə(r)/
KK[plˈɑtɚ]IPA/ˈplɑːtər/

plotter — noun

  • plottersingular
  • plottersplural

1. a person who works with others to secretly plan something illegal, such as a rob

1.nounB2
Definition

a person who works with others to secretly plan something illegal, such as a robbery, fraud, or political attack

Example

Elena was among the plotters who planned to rob the Van Huys museum.

collocation: among the plotters

The police arrested three plotters before they could carry out the kidnapping.

Common collocations
  • master plotter
  • chief plotter
  • plotter behind [a crime/scheme]
Synonyms
  • conspirator

    more common and slightly more formal; suggests a group working against an authority

  • schemer

    less formal; can refer to someone planning something dishonest in everyday settings

Grammar Patterns

usually plural

often followed by 'behind' or 'of'

Usage Note

This sense always carries a strongly negative meaning — it is not used for neutral or positive group planning such as organising an event.

Common Mistakes

The party plotters decorated the hall with balloons.
The party organizers decorated the hall with balloons.
'plotter' is only used for secret, often illegal schemes, not for harmless celebration planning.

2. a device that records the route or current location of a boat or plane and shows

2.nounC1
Definition

a device that records the route or current location of a boat or plane and shows the information visually on a display

Example

The ship's plotter showed the exact route across the Atlantic.

Sana checked the radar plotter to see how far they were from the coast.

collocation: radar plotter

Common collocations
  • radar plotter
  • GPS plotter
  • chart plotter
  • paper plotter
  • digital plotter

Grammar Patterns

often modified by a noun: radar plotter / chart plotter / GPS plotter

Usage Note

Frequently appears with a preceding noun specifying the technology: 'radar plotter', 'GPS plotter', 'chart plotter'. The device is common in both maritime and aviation contexts.

3. a machine connected to a computer that draws graphs, charts, or technical drawin

3.nounC1
Definition

a machine connected to a computer that draws graphs, charts, or technical drawings on paper using a moving pen or other marking tool

Example

The engineering team used a large plotter to print the building blueprints.

collocation: large plotter

Hassan connected the plotter to his laptop to produce a map of the survey area.

pattern: connect + plotter + to + laptop to produce [output]

Common collocations
  • pen plotter
  • flatbed plotter
  • drum plotter
  • large-format plotter

Grammar Patterns

often modified by a noun: pen plotter / flatbed plotter

Usage Note

This sense is largely historical — modern homes and offices use large-format inkjet printers instead. Still current in specialised engineering and architecture contexts.

Common Mistakes

I printed my homework on the plotter.
I printed my homework on the printer.
A plotter draws with pens and is used for technical drawings, not for everyday text documents.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Plotter', 'conspirator', 'schemer', and 'accomplice' all describe someone involved in wrongdoing, but they differ in emphasis. A 'conspirator' is a person who joins a group plot against an authority — the word is common in political and legal contexts ('the conspirators planned a coup'). 'Plotter' is more general and slightly less formal, focusing on the act of making a secret plan rather than group membership. 'Schemer' is less formal still and often implies a self-serving person who uses clever but dishonest tricks in everyday life ('a schemer who tricked his neighbours'). 'Accomplice' is narrower: it refers to someone who helps another person commit a crime, not necessarily the person who planned it. For example, 'the driver who waited outside the bank was an accomplice, not one of the main plotters.'

conspirator ↗schemeraccomplice ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

Etymology

EnglishOld English

From the verb 'plot' (meaning to plan secretly or to map a position) combined with the agent suffix '-er', meaning 'someone who plots' or 'a device that plots'. The conspirator meaning appeared in the late 1500s, and the device meanings emerged much later with navigation and computer technology in the 1900s.

First known use

1588

1588, in the meaning defined above