1610s, "one who revises" (a sense now obsolete), agent noun from review (v.). As "one who critically examines and passes judgment on new publications or productions; a writer of reviews," from 1650s.
Entries linking to reviewer
review v.
1570s, "re-view, examine or view again," from re- "again" + view (v.). The meaning "look back on, recall by the aid of memory" is from 1751; that of "consider or discuss critically to bring out the excellences and defects" especially in the form of a written essay is from 1781. Related: Reviewed; reviewing.