mummer

noun

mum·​mer ˈmə-mər How to pronounce mummer (audio)
1
: a performer in a pantomime
broadly : actor
2
: one who goes merrymaking in disguise during festivals

Examples of mummer in a Sentence

a street festival featuring mummers in a pantomime those moonstruck mummers on TV soap operas who have more hair than talent
Recent Examples on the Web For Martin, any rivalry between the shows is a mummer’s farce (that is, foolish). James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 July 2022 Kraken and dark flame, lion and griffin, the sun's son and the mummer's dragon. Abby Gardner, Glamour, 13 May 2019 Kelce, a center for the Eagles and native of Cleveland Heights, wore a mummer's outfit that glittered. Branson Wright, cleveland.com, 8 Feb. 2018 Attendees will be led in traditional songs from England, Ireland, and the United States, and Revels will perform a mummers play. Leslie Anderson, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Mar. 2018 Troupes of mimes and acrobats, musicians and mummers were ubiquitous in early modern Europe. A. O. Scott, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mummer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mummer was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near mummer

Cite this Entry

“Mummer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mummer. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

mummer

noun
mum·​mer ˈməm-ər How to pronounce mummer (audio)
1
: a person who celebrates a holiday by making merry in disguise
2
: actor

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