lumper

noun

lump·​er ˈləm-pər How to pronounce lumper (audio)
1
: a laborer who handles freight or cargo
2
: one who classifies organisms into large often variable taxonomic groups based on major characters compare splitter

Examples of lumper in a Sentence

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.
In the 1800s, for example, a single clone of the Irish lumper potato fed Ireland's growing population until a rot wiped it out, devastating the island's people and economy. Rebecca Albright, Scientific American, 1 Jan. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1785, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lumper was circa 1785

Dictionary Entries Near lumper

Cite this Entry

“Lumper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lumper. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on lumper

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!