The disclosure concerns an applicator (e.g. printhead) for applying a coating agent (e.g. paint) to a component (e.g. motor vehicle body component), having at least one nozzle row with a plurality of nozzles for dispensing the coating agent in the form of a jet in each case, the nozzles being arranged along the nozzle row and in a common nozzle plane, and having a plurality of actuators for controlled release or closure of the nozzles. The disclosure provides that the individual actuators each have an outer dimension along the nozzle row which is greater than a nozzle distance along the nozzle row.