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

Daniels hit a floater on the Hawks’ ensuing possession to put Atlanta ahead 116-115 with 1:31 remaining before Vincent connected with Davis on an alley-oop to put the Lakers back up by one, 117-116. —Khobi Price, Orange County Register, 7 Dec. 2024

But as Anthony Davis slumped after missing a floater over Nikola Jokic during a disastrous third quarter, and the Nuggets raced back up the floor, the stench of familiarity filled the Lakers’ home arena. —Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 24 Nov. 2024

McCain drove to the basket in the fourth quarter and put up a floater. —Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 17 Oct. 2024

Walk-up Pineapple Lanai just outside the lobby serves iconic Dole Whip as well as Dole Whip with rum floaters. —Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 14 Oct. 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