evaporative cooler
noun
plural evaporative coolers
: an appliance or apparatus that utilizes the cooling effect of water evaporation to cool the ambient air (as in a room of a home) by moving air drawn from elsewhere through or over a wet medium : a device that performs evaporative cooling
So, for my small home office, I opted for an evaporative cooler that you fill with water to help cool the room. They're not as effective as air conditioners, but they don't require venting, and they are generally a lot less expensive and use less energy than window or portable air conditioners.—Larry Magid
In Southern Nevada, evaporative coolers are the second-largest consumer of water behind only grass lawns, according to the Southern Nevada Water Authority.—Colton Lochhead
called also swamp cooler
Cite this Entry
“Evaporative cooler.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/evaporative%20cooler. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.
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