drifter

noun

drift·​er ˈdrif-tər How to pronounce drifter (audio)
: one that drifts
especially : one that travels or moves about aimlessly

Examples of drifter in a Sentence

He was a drifter who hitchhiked from state to state. the drifter just packed up and moved on to the next dead-end job
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And Who Could Play That Character Yancy Grey (Jack Schumacher), who started the show off as a drifter who landed in Ransom Canyon to try and make quick work of getting close to one Cap Fuller (James Brolin). Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 17 Apr. 2025 On April 25, 2000, Acosta, 49, was abducted by Michael Tanzi, a 23-year-old Massachusetts drifter who asked Acosta for a cigarette, punched her and threw her into her Plymouth Voyager van. Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2025 In the short story, a drifter impersonates a missing girl to rob the girl’s family — only to realize she’s made a terrible mistake. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 20 Mar. 2025 Millie Bobby Brown will star as an orphaned teenager searching for her brother across a post-apocalyptic American West, joined by a loveable robot and a drifter (Chris Pratt). Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for drifter

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of drifter was in 1897

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Drifter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drifter. Accessed 17 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

drifter

noun
drift·​er ˈdrif-tər How to pronounce drifter (audio)
: one that drifts
especially : a person who travels about without purpose

More from Merriam-Webster on drifter

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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