boomerang

noun

boo·​mer·​ang ˈbü-mə-ˌraŋ 

1

: a bent or angular throwing club typically flat on one side and rounded on the other so that it soars or curves in flight

especially : one designed to return near the thrower

2

: an act or utterance that backfires on its originator

boomerang intransitive verb

Examples of boomerang in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Companies are frequently hiring former employees, otherwise known as boomerang hires. —HubSpot, 2 June 2025

The boomerang captured Brittany carrying Golden in a baby sling while Sterling did the same with her toy baby doll. —Charna Flam, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025

In addition to the atlatl, the archaeologists also found a fragment of a boomerang, long wooden tips that might have been used to deliver poison to prey, and wooden darts and stone tips. —Livia Albeck-Ripka, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025

The most common type of boomerang is non-returning and made for combat and hunting, like the one found in the cave. —Rhiannon Saegert, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Dharuk (Australian aboriginal language of the Port Jackson area) bumarinʸ

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing boomerang

• boomerang child

Rhymes for boomerang

• overhang
• bang
• chuang
• clang
• dang
• drang
• fang
• gang
• gangue
• hang
• hange
• kang

Kids Definition

boomerang

1 of 2 noun

boo·​mer·​ang

ˈbü-mə-ˌraŋ

: a curved club that can be thrown so as to return to the thrower

boomerang

2 of 2 verb

: backfire entry 2 sense 2

Etymology

the Indigenous word for this club in Australia