Definition

A device that reduces or muffles the sound of a firearm when it is fired, or a part of an engine that reduces noise.

Example

The police found a silencer attached to the suspect's gun.

Conversation

Have you ever seen a silencer in action?

No, I haven't! Are they really as quiet as people say?

Yeah, they can muffle the sound quite a bit.

That's interesting! I always thought they were just a movie thing.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Silencer → It is formed from "silent" (from Latin "silens", meaning not making noise) and "-er" (meaning a person or thing that performs an action). A silencer is something that makes something else silent or reduces noise.

Memory Tip

Think of something that makes things 'silent' — that's what a silencer does, and the '-er' indicates it performs that action.

Visually Confused Words