putter

1 of 3

noun (1)

put·​ter ˈpu̇-tər 

: one that puts

a putter of questions

putter

2 of 3

noun (2)

putt·​er ˈpə-tər 

1

: a golf club used in putting

2

: one who putts

putter

3 of 3

verb

put·​ter ˈpə-tər 

puttered; puttering; putters

intransitive verb

1

: to move or act aimlessly or idly

2

: to work at random : tinker

putterer

ˈpə-tər-ər 

noun

Synonyms

Verb

• potter (around)
• play
• goof (around)
• fiddle (around)
• monkey (around)
• fool around
• hang about [British]

Examples of putter in a Sentence

Verb

the motorboat puttered across the lake

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In one 90-second spot that also featured wide receiver DK Metcalf, all Payton had to do was look up from his putter and shake his head. —Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 1 Sep. 2025

Sam Burns – Regarded as one of the best putters on tour, Burns’ touch on the greens could prove decisive in close matches. —Jeff Goudy, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025

Verb

The air smelled sweet and repellent, like a puttering campfire. —River Selby august 25, Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2025

In the video, a man putters up and down the street carrying a pitchfork, shouting at his neighbors and at no one, punctuated by the occasional obscenity. —Ethan Bauer, Rolling Stone, 3 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

alteration of potter

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1743, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1827, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing putter

• putter around

Rhymes for putter

• butter
• clutter
• cutter
• flutter
• gutter
• mutter
• nutter
• rutter
• shutter
• sputter
• stutter
• utter

Kids Definition

putter

1 of 3 noun

put·​ter ˈpu̇t-ər 

: one that puts

putter

2 of 3 noun

putt·​er ˈpət-ər 

1

: a golf club used in putting

2

: a person who putts

putter

3 of 3 verb

put·​ter ˈpət-ər 

1

: to move or act without obvious purpose

2

: to work by chance or without skill

putterer

-ər-ər 

noun

Etymology

Noun

from put and -er (noun suffix)

Noun

from putt and -er (noun suffix)

Verb

an altered form of earlier potter "to move about idly without aim or purpose"