high roller

or highroller

noun

, Informal.

1. a person who gambles for large stakes, as in a casino.
2. a person who spends money freely for entertainment and extravagant living.
3. a corporation or governmental agency that invests or spends freely or recklessly.

high roller

noun

1. slang.
   a person who spends money extravagantly or gambles recklessly

Derived Forms

• high rolling, nounadjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of high roller¹

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Example Sentences

Simmons, an instinctive high roller (his chief assistant was even named "Mogel"), did not require much convincing.

From The Daily Beast

At a high-roller Democratic fundraiser on Park Avenue last month, a California lawyer dismissed the Whitman challenge.

From The Daily Beast

I laid off, and Miles Diston took the high-roller out next trip.

From Project Gutenberg

He had been a high roller in his day, I guess, but had of late been on his uppers.

From Project Gutenberg

He 's a high roller, right in with the judge and his crew, and there is n't a more corrupt politician in this town.

From Project Gutenberg

He had been a "high roller" until he came under the Rev. Mr. Borrowscale's tutelage.

From Project Gutenberg

Fatty Welch was "working" some swell guys who thought he was a real high-roller.

From Project Gutenberg