The meter he can do without (9)
I believe the answer is:
dispenser
'the meter' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'he can do without' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'he' could be 'spenser' and 'spenser' is present in the answer.
The remaining letters 'di' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for dispenser that I've seen before include "Chemist" , "One filling prescription" , "ATM" , "Container releasing its contents in prescribed amounts" , "one to give out" .)