1
: one that reefs
2
: a close-fitting usually double-breasted jacket or coat of thick cloth
1
2
: a refrigerator car, truck, trailer, or ship
: marijuana sense 2
also : a marijuana cigarette

Examples of reefer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
It is also equipped with advanced energy-management solutions to efficiently power and ventilate refrigerated containers through 1,600 reefer plugs. Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 27 May 2026 In the early twentieth century, cannabis was known by many nicknames, including juju, tea, and reefer. Literary Hub, 22 May 2026 Deendayal alone held 15,000 TEUs idle; Jawaharlal Nehru Port another 5,000, including reefers that needed continuous power just to stay usable. Steve Banker, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2026 Buy a boat, travel the seas, and maybe run a little reefer. Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 17 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reefer

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

by shortening & alteration

Noun (3)

probably modification of Mexican Spanish grifa

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1911, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun (3)

1933, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reefer was in 1800

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Reefer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reefer. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

reefer

1 of 2 noun
1
: one that reefs
2
: a close-fitting jacket of thick cloth

reefer

2 of 2 noun
: a marijuana cigarette

Medical Definition

: a marijuana cigarette

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