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Definition of actuator

actuator

/ˈæk.tʃu.eɪ.tɚ/
ac · tu · a · tor
Plural:actuators
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actuator Lexical Profile

actuator Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A mechanical device, motor, or component that is responsible for moving or controlling a mechanism or system, typically by converting energy (such as electrical, hydraulic, or pneumatic) into physical motion.

Example

"The aerospace engineer determined that a faulty hydraulic actuator was preventing the aircraft's landing gear from deploying properly."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for actuator

• Nearby Words

actuals
actuary
actuate
actuator
acuity
acumen
acupressure

Word Origin & Etymology

Early 20th century: formed from the verb 'actuate' (from Medieval Latin 'actuare' meaning 'to act upon', from Latin 'actus' meaning 'action') plus the suffix '-or'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Actuator. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/actuator
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