When something is more dry than another, it’s “drier.” Anything that is the most dry is the “driest.” But if you need an appliance to “dry” something (such as your clothes), you’ll need to use a “dryer.”
Key lesson points:
“Drier” is a comparative adjective that describes things that are “more dry” than another.
“Dryer” is a noun that references a machine or device we use to dry things.
Dictionaries list “dryer” as a spelling variant of “drier,” although “dryer” is the dominant spelling.
As you can imagine, these terms are easily confused because they involve similar contexts and spellings while sharing the same pronunciation: “dry-er.” We spell the noun dryer using a -y- because it derives from the verb dry, meaning “to become dry” or “to remove moisture.” A dryer appliance does exactly that.
What does drier mean?
The word drier is the comparative form of the adjective dry (the superlative being “driest”). As an adjective, the word dry has many connotations, but the essence of the word either means “completely free of moisture or liquid” or “lacking adornment.”
For example,
“An umbrella will keep you dry in the rain.”
“If you don’t have butter or jam, the toast will taste dry.”
Thus, if something is “drier,” it is more dry than something else, and the “driest” is the most dry of all objects compared.
For example,
“This sock is not dry, but it’s drier than the other clothes that came from the laundromat.”
“The cookies are drier than normal, but not like the first batch you made. Those were the driest of them all.”
Published examples:
“That’s what Tucsonans will be doing if the drier, warmer-than-normal forecast put out by the National Weather Service on Monday comes to fruition.” — Arizona Daily Star
“In addition, drier soil contributes to malnutrition, and warming temperatures have contributed to higher numbers of dengue- and malaria-carrying mosquitoes, studies have found.” — The New York Times
“Many experts also find that OTC treatments that are typically used to treat teenage acne are too harsh on drier, thinner skin.” — Good Housekeeping
“A personal sommelier will consider your preferences, such as drier wines, and create a selection of wine just for you.” — Food & Wine Magazine
What does dryer mean?
The word dryer is a noun that commonly references a machine or device that dries something (e.g., clothes dryer, hairdryer, hand dryer, etc.). Otherwise, we use the term for anything that absorbs moisture or a substance that allows paint or ink to dry faster.
Published examples:
“In the near future, people will stop talking about eating Tide pods and start talking about whether we can cook full meals in the dryer.” — The New Yorker
“After years of building vacuums, hand dryers, fans, and air purifiers, the company has decided to make a hairdryer.” — WIRED
“This barrel evenly distributes heat from a blow dryer, which means your hair will dry quicker and more evenly than before.” — Elle
“Yes, there would be product recalls: smartkale that spontaneously explodes, smartschnapps that drains down to empty too quickly, smartpajamas that suddenly stop working after five or six cycles in the washer-dryer.” — The Wall Street Journal
Speaking of household appliances: The noun dryer makes several appearances within technical terms like air dryer, gas dryer, electric dryer, desiccant dryer, vented dryer, condenser dryer, heat pump condenser dryer–– the list goes on and on.
These phrases are all specific to the function of a dryer apparatus, and they’re not necessarily pivotal for one’s understanding of the word. Nonetheless, it’s good to be aware of how you might encounter the noun in the real world.
Published examples:
“Each dryer would include a wet scrubber, a filtration method to control or reduce particulate emissions.” — Detroit Free Press
“Using a refrigerant in condenser coils makes heat-pump dryers at least 28 percent more energy-efficient than standard dryers, according to the federal Energy Star program.” — The Washington Post
“Though there are small, 120-volt automatic dryers, most of them require a vent, which is a dealbreaker in most apartments…” — Wirecutter
“Desiccant dryers are designed with two possible paths for the compressed air through two identical desiccant beds that are located inside two pressure vessels, or the dryer towers.” — Plant Services
Additional reading
Drier vs. dryer is just one example of variant English spellings out there. If you’d like to learn more about tricky spelling differences, be sure to check out the following lessons on The Word Counter:
Test how well you understand the difference between drier and dryer with the following multiple-choice questions.
True or false?: “Dryer” as a noun is a variant spelling of “drier.” a. True b. False
True or false? When describing an appliance that dries something, “dryer” is the most common spelling to use. a. True b. False
If something is drier than something else, the “most dry” is ____________. a. Dry b. Drier c. Driest d. B and C
Which of the following sentences is incorrect? a. “Heat of compression dryers use heat from an air compressor for desiccant regeneration.” b. “Firefighters reminded residents to clean their dryer’s lint filters to avoid house fires.” c. “Most dryers have moisture sensors to detect the dampness of clothes.” d. “Your cactus would thrive in much dryer conditions.”
Which of the following sentences is incorrect? a. “Potential headaches and general irritability are potential disadvantages of traveling to a much drier climate.” b. “This heater is making the air feel dryer in the house.” c. “Gas dryers are expensive, but they are more cost-effective in the long run.” d. “I can assure you that a leaf blower is no substitute for a hairdryer.”
Select the correct missing word from the following sentences:
6. “Heat of compression _____________ use heat from an air compressor for desiccant regeneration.” a. Dry b. Drier c. Driest d. Dryer
7. “The new blow _____________ guarantees to keep those tresses untangled.” a. Dryer b. Dried c. Dry d. Driest
8. “A condenser _____________ pushes air through a condenser to be warmed before sending it to the dryer drum.” a. Drier b. Dryed c. Dryer d. Dry
9. “Your laundry room should give the _____________ enough space for optimal air circulation.” a. Dry b. Dryer c. Driest d. Dryed
10. “If the _____________ drum is too full, your clothes will be less _____________ and smelly.” a. Dry, dier b. Drier, dry c. Dryer, dier d. Dryer, dry
Alanna Madden is a freelance writer and editor from Portland, Oregon. Alanna specializes in data and news reporting and enjoys writing about art, culture, and STEM-related topics. I can be found on Linkedin.
Alanna Madden
December 25, 2021
Grammar Tips
