striker

[ strahy-ker ]

noun

1. a person or thing that strikes.
2. a worker who is on strike.
3. manhelper.
4. the clapper in a clock that strikes the hours or rings an alarm.
5. U.S. Army. a private who acts as a voluntary paid servant to a commissioned officer.
6. U.S. Navy. an enlisted person in training for a specific technical rating.
7. a person who strikes fish, whales, etc., with a spear or harpoon.
8. Whaling. a harpoon.
9. Soccer. one of the attacking forwards.

striker

/ ˈstraɪkə /

noun

1. a person who is on strike
2. the hammer in a timepiece that rings a bell or alarm
3. any part in a mechanical device that strikes something, such as the firing pin of a gun
4. informal.
   soccer an attacking player, esp one who generally positions himself near his opponent's goal in the hope of scoring
5. cricket the batsman who is about to play a ball
6. 1. a person who harpoons whales or fish
   2. the harpoon itself

Other Words From

• anti·striker noun
• non·striker noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of striker¹

1350–1400; 1840–50 striker fordef 2; Middle English; strike, -er ¹

Example Sentences

There’s a crown jewel of a striker in Harry Kane, a multifaceted talent and leader.

From Time

This is the same team whose star striker acquisition could barely find the net all season long.

From FiveThirtyEight

If you swap Kane with an average striker, Spurs are a bottom-half-of-the-table team.

From FiveThirtyEight

Ola Kamara, the starting striker last year, might suit up for the first time.

From Washington Post

Everyone is familiar with Simeone’s defense but that system this season is formidable thanks to an extremely effective striker in Luis Suárez.

From FiveThirtyEight

Twenty minutes later, U.S. striker Jozy Altidore was barreling down the left sideline at top speed in pursuit of the ball.

From The Daily Beast

The 24-year-old striker, meanwhile, was building a reputation on the international stage before he could even legally drink.

From The Daily Beast

The veteran 36-year-old striker was the star of the 2006 World Cup German team that Klinsmann coached, and is a total ball hawk.

From The Daily Beast

Steve McQueen has had you play a hunger striker, a sex addict, and now, a slave owner.

From The Daily Beast

Balotelli, a star striker born in Palermo, Sicily, has earned a reputation that would make even Berlusconi blush.

From The Daily Beast

"Major Tipton arranged with me to serve as your striker, sir, until you make some other arrangement," reported the soldier.

From Project Gutenberg

Tarbell, through his hold upon the welshing Clanahan striker, had got the details at second-hand.

From Project Gutenberg

When a striker is run out, the notch they were running for is not to be reckoned.

From Project Gutenberg

The striking of a match is a public event, of which the striker gives previous notice in a loud voice.

From Project Gutenberg

A piece of red-hot metal was lifted out and thrust into the vice; Hannam was striker and Bickerton holder.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• marcher
• radical
• rioter