drifter

noun

drift·​er ˈdrif-tər How to pronounce drifter (audio)
: one that drifts
especially : one that travels or moves about aimlessly

Examples of drifter in a Sentence

He was a drifter who hitchhiked from state to state. the drifter just packed up and moved on to the next dead-end job
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The former is available for streaming on Tubi. 'Cursed' This indie horror movie, about an American drifter whose life takes a supernatural turn in a rural village in Romania, was filmed in the West Bend area. Chris Foran, Journal Sentinel, 26 Dec. 2024 Though the bones tell the tale of a drifter's death between 2006 to 2008, there are not any more details about when or where Hietamaki was before that. Karen Bartunek, The Arizona Republic, 7 Nov. 2024 Cindy Lee: Diamond Jubilee The 32-track magnum opus from the glamorous alter-ego of Canadian musician Patrick Flegel hit the scene like some old movie where a mysterious drifter shows up with their guitar to breathe new life into a sleepy town. Pitchfork, 3 Dec. 2024 Patriarch Royal Abbott has a lot to deal with from the very first episode with the arrival of a nefarious drifter named Autumn and a fight between Royal’s son Perry and Trevor Tillerson that escalates into murder. Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 15 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for drifter 

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of drifter was in 1897

Dictionary Entries Near drifter

Cite this Entry

“Drifter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drifter. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

drifter

noun
drift·​er ˈdrif-tər How to pronounce drifter (audio)
: one that drifts
especially : a person who travels about without purpose

More from Merriam-Webster on drifter

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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