sealer

IPA/ˈsiːlə(r)/
KK[sˈilɚ]IPA/ˈsiːlər/

sealer — noun

1. a liquid or paste you spread over a surface as a protective finish that keeps ou

1.nounB2
Definition

a liquid or paste you spread over a surface as a protective finish that keeps out moisture, air, and dust

Example

Before painting the wooden fence, Heloísa applied a sealer to protect it from rain and sunlight.

applied + sealer + purpose clause (to protect)

Amihan used a concrete sealer on the basement floor to keep moisture from seeping through.

concrete sealer — typical collocation

Common collocations
  • apply a sealer
  • concrete sealer
  • wood sealer
  • paint sealer
  • coat of sealer
Synonyms
  • sealant

    broader term; includes fillers and waterproofers

  • coating

    more general — any covering layer, not necessarily protective

  • primer

    prepares the surface but does not always block moisture

Usage Note

Often used in DIY and construction contexts. Compare with 'sealant', which is a broader category that includes sealers as well as fillers.

Common Mistakes

❗ 'Apply some sealant on the wood before painting.' ✅ 'Apply a wood sealer before painting.' — 'Sealer' is a specific type of sealant for surface protection; 'sealant' is more general.

2. someone whose work is catching seals to sell their fur, oil, or meat, or a boat

2.nounB2
Definition

someone whose work is catching seals to sell their fur, oil, or meat, or a boat used for this purpose

Example

Kabir sailed north every spring to work as a sealer along the icy coast of Greenland.

as a sealer — role noun with preposition 'as'

The old sealer reached the harbour at dawn, ready to follow the seal migration route.

Common collocations
  • sealer ship
  • sealer crew
  • work as a sealer
Synonyms
  • seal hunter

    more explicit and more common in modern English

Usage Note

This sense is becoming less common in modern use as commercial seal hunting has declined. It may appear mainly in historical texts or discussions of indigenous Arctic communities.

Common Mistakes

❗ 'The sealer swam in the water.' ✅ 'The seal swam in the water.' — 'Sealer' is the person who hunts seals, not the animal itself.

3. an official whose job is to examine documents, products, or processes, and then

3.nounC1
Definition

an official whose job is to examine documents, products, or processes, and then put an official stamp or mark on them to show they meet the required standards

Example

The court appointed Gabriel as a sealer to verify that every page of the contract had been properly stamped.

appointed as a sealer — passive construction for official roles

Selim inspected each cargo document as a government sealer at the port authority.

government sealer — official title

Common collocations
  • government sealer
  • court sealer
  • appoint a sealer
  • sealer of documents
Synonyms
  • certifier

    more general; does not imply the use of a physical stamp

  • inspector

    focuses on examination rather than stamping

  • notary

    witnesses signatures; different legal role

Usage Note

A formal or legal role. The specific duties vary by country and context. In some historical settings the sealer also kept a physical stamp or seal to mark approved items.

Common Mistakes

❗ 'The notary sealed the contract as a sealer.' ✅ 'A sealer must certify that the documents meet the official standard, while a notary only witnesses signatures.' — Sealer and notary have different legal functions.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe substances applied to surfaces, but they differ in function and specificity. 'Sealer' is a liquid or paste that creates a protective barrier against air and moisture; it is the most specific term for blocking penetration. 'Sealant' is a broader category that includes sealers as well as flexible fillers used around gaps and joints (e.g., bathroom caulk is a sealant, not a sealer). 'Coating' is a very general term for any layer spread over a surface — it may be decorative, protective, or both. 'Primer' prepares the surface for paint by improving adhesion, but it does not necessarily block moisture the way a sealer does. For example, you would apply a wood sealer before painting a fence outdoors, but you would apply a primer before painting a wall indoors.

sealer ↗sealantcoating ↗primer ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • apply a sealer
  • spread a sealer
  • brush on a sealer

Prepositions

  • apply a sealer to [surface]

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglishOld EnglishEnglish

The word 'sealer' in senses 1 and 3 comes from the verb 'seal' (to close or fasten securely), which entered English from Old French 'seel' (a stamp or closure), tracing further back to Latin 'sigillum' (a small picture or seal). The suffix '-er' indicates a thing or person that performs the action. Sense 2 has a different origin: it comes from the animal 'seal' (Old English 'seolh'), referring to the marine mammal, plus '-er' to describe someone who hunts it. So senses 1 and 3 share the Latin root of stamping/closing, while sense 2 comes from a separate Germanic root for the animal.

First known use

15th century

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun (2)