bummer

1 of 2

noun (1)

bum·​mer ˈbə-mər How to pronounce bummer (audio)
: one that bums

bummer

2 of 2

noun (2)

1
: an unpleasant experience (such as a bad reaction to a hallucinogenic drug)
2

Examples of bummer in a Sentence

Noun (1) boy, breaking your leg right before vacation is a bummer the cancellation of the holiday office party was a total bummer that new start-up company proved to be a real bummer Noun (2) a lifelong bummer, he never knew the satisfaction of having to work for a living
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
He's projected to be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft and is unbelievably entertaining to watch, which is why his injury during the ACC Tournament was such a bummer. Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 17 Mar. 2025 Yeah, the winner is a bummer — Stefan was robbed — but the journey getting there is a riot. Randall Colburn, EW.com, 13 Mar. 2025 As bleak as its perspective on movie-making circa 2025 can be, The Studio is never a bummer. Judy Berman, TIME, 7 Mar. 2025 That's a bummer, because Canoo really did have something cool on its hands. New Atlas, 5 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bummer

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

probably modification of German Bummler loafer, from bummeln to dangle, loaf

Noun (2)

bum entry 2 + -er entry 2

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1855, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1966, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bummer was in 1855

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bummer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bummer. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

bummer

noun
bum·​mer
ˈbəm-ər
1
: an unpleasant experience, event, or situation
2
: something that fails : flop
Etymology

Noun

2bum

More from Merriam-Webster on bummer

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