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.
The season picks up as Reacher, now a drifter, becomes embroiled in a rescue mission of an undercover DEA informant while confronting his own haunted past, according to Prime Video. Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025 Chris Pratt co-stars as Keats, a drifter who aids Michelle on her journey, with Ke Huy Quan, Stanley Tucci, and Giancarlo Esposito rounding out the cast. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 14 Jan. 2025 His signature commanding, grainy voice melds masterfully with the guitar, tambourine and steady percussion underpinning the song’s story of a drifter making his home on the highways and in every town. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 3 Feb. 2025 One day, a drifter named Rıza (Erkan Kolçak Köstendil) arrives at the property, with no past and no home, and negotiates a job tending to the land. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 29 Jan. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Drifter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drifter. Accessed 2 Mar. 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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