Drier vs. Dryer
Main DifferenceThe main difference between drier and dryer is that drier is an adjective whereas dryer is a noun.

Difference Between Drier and Dryer
Drier vs. Dryer
Drieris a person or thing that dries; a desiccative whereas dryer is a household appliance which through heat or tumbling motion, removes the water from clothing by evaporation.
Drier vs. Dryer
Drier is an adjective; on the flip side dryer is a noun.
Drier vs. Dryer
Drier refers to a device for making things less wet on the other hand dryer means (in the US) an appliance that uses heat and spinning bin to evaporate moisture from clothes and other fabrics.
Drier vs. Dryer
The example of drier is “my shirt became drier after I left them by the fireplace for a few minutes.” While the example of a dryer is “The manufacturer recalled all the Volta 9000 hairdryer units when a lawsuit claimed the devices were responsible for many house fires.”
Driernoun
One who, or that which, dries; a desiccative.
The sun and a northwesterly wind are great driers of the earth.Dryernoun
A household appliance that removes the water from clothing by accelerating evaporation, usually though heat and a tumbling motion.
Driernoun
Any substance that accelerates drying.
Dryernoun
An electric hair dryer.
Driernoun
Catalyst used to promote the drying of paints and varnishes by oxidative crosslinking.
Dryernoun
Any other device, household or industrial, designed to remove water or humidity.
Driernoun
alternative spelling of dryer
Dryeradjective
(US) lang=en
Driernoun
a substance that promotes drying (e.g., calcium oxide absorbs water and is used to remove moisture)
Dryernoun
an appliance that removes moisture
Driernoun
an appliance that removes moisture
Comparison Chart
Drier | Dryer |
A person or thing that dries; a desiccative | A household appliance which through heat or tumbling motion, removes the water from clothing by evaporation |
Parts of Speech | |
Adjective | Noun |
Category | |
Person/thing | Thing/appliance |
Examples | |
My shirt became drier after I left them by the fireplace for a few minutes | The manufacturer recalled all the Volta 9000 hairdryer units when a lawsuit claimed the devices were responsible for many house fires |
Drier vs. Dryer
The words drier and dryer are homophones (words that sound alike), but they have a different meaning. Drier and dryer cannot be distinguished in spoken English. Although, both the words drier and dryer have a different context as well as usage. Drier is a person or thing that dries; a desiccative. A dryer is a household appliance which through heat and tumbling motion, removes the water from clothing by evaporation. Drier is an adjective. It means less wet. The dryer is a noun. It refers to a device for making things less wet. Drier also refers to the weather. If someone is referencing the weather, drier is the word of which he/she is thinking. For example, Arizona is known for its drier climate than that of Washington State. The noun dryer refers to a device that makes something less wet, e.g., a load of laundry or freshly washed hair. The example of drier is “my shirt became drier after I left them by the fireplace for a few minutes.” The example of a dryer is “The manufacturer recalled all the Volta 9000 hairdryer units when a lawsuit claimed the devices were responsible for many house fires.”
What is Drier?
Drier is an adjective. It means a person or thing that dries; a desiccative. Drier means less wet. It also refers to the weather. If someone is referencing the weather, drier is the word of which he/she is thinking. For example, Arizona is known for its drier climate than that of Washington State. Dries may expel or absorb moisture as the sun, and a northwesterly wind is great driers of the earth. The adjective drier is an alternative form of the noun dryer. Drier is used to describing wetness among two or more objects.
Examples
- My shirt became much drier after I left them by the fireplace for a few minutes.
- “The mat is drier over there, where my cat was not drooling on it,” said Elle.
- “Drier air trigger headaches. Despite the cold outside, your body still loses a considerable amount of water through sweating and evaporation.” The Richmond Register
What is the Dryer?
A dryer is a household appliance which through heat or tumbling motion, removes the water from clothing by evaporation. It is a noun. Dryer refers to a device that makes something less wet, e.g., a load of laundry or freshly washed hair. Dryer means (in the US) an appliance that uses heat and spinning bin to evaporate moisture from clothes and other fabrics. A dryer is a short term for “Clothes dryer.” In the UK, dryers are also known as “tumble dryers.” A dryer is an alternative form of drier.
Examples
- The manufacturer recalled all the Volta 9000 hairdryer units when a lawsuit claimed the devices were responsible for many house fires.
- I am going to buy a new hairdryer for my hairstyling.
- “Today’s dryers are loaded with features such as wrinkle shields, moisture sensors, and steam cycles. But many consumers are making basic mistakes that affect how they work.” –The Washington Post.
ConclusionDrier and dryer are homophones but have a different meaning and usage in different contexts.