floater

noun

float·​er ˈflō-tər 

1

a

: one that floats

b

: a person who floats something

2

: a person who votes illegally in various polling places

3

a

: a person without a permanent residence or regular employment

b

: a worker who moves from job to job

especially : one without fixed duties

4

: a pitched, thrown, or hit ball that moves through the air relatively slowly with little or no spin or rotation

5

: a policy insuring specific items of personal property (such as jewelry or art)

6

: a bit of optical debris (such as a dead cell or cell fragment) in the vitreous humor or lens that may be perceived as a spot before the eye

also : a spot in the visual field due to such debris

—usually used in plural

7

US : floating holiday

Examples of floater in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

San Antonio allows fewer layups, dunks and floaters with Wembanyama around. —Fred Katz, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025

Herro missed a floater that would have won the game at the buzzer. —Paul Kitagaki Jr., Sacramento Bee, 7 Jan. 2025

What: This east side bar will be pouring their frozen spicy pineapple margarita with jalapeno infused Gran Marnier floaters throughout the week. —Isabela Ocampo Restrepo, Austin American-Statesman, 7 Aug. 2024

Rohan Nadkarni Oh no! One play after nearly throwing an interception that was ultimately dropped, Geno Smith left no doubt on 3rd-and-9, throwing a floater in the end zone that was picked by Carrington Valentine. —Andrew Greif, NBC News, 16 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1717, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Medical Definition

floater

noun

float·​er ˈflōt-ər 

: a bit of optical debris (as a dead cell or cell fragment) in the vitreous body or lens that may be perceived as a spot before the eye

also : a spot in the visual field due to such debris

—usually used in plural compare muscae volitantes

Legal Definition

floater

noun

float·​er

1

[from the notion that the policy “floats” with the goods it insures, wherever they might be located] : a policy or supplemental attachment to a policy insuring specific items of personal property (as jewelry or art)

specifically : a policy of insurance to protect against loss or damage of goods in transit or goods (as jewels) naturally subject to use in various places

called also floating policy

2

: a debt security that yields an indexed variable rate of interest

especially : floating rate note at note