an outfit for women, advocated about 1850 by Amelia Jenks Bloomer, consisting of a short skirt, loose trousers gathered and buttoned at the ankle, and often a coat and a wide hat.
(used with a plural verb) bloomers,
loose trousers gathered at the knee, formerly worn by women as part of a gymnasium, riding, or other sports outfit.
women's underpants of similar, but less bulky, design.
the trousers of a bloomer outfit.
any of various women's garments with full-cut legs gathered at the bottom edge.
a plant that blooms.
a night bloomer.
a person who develops skills, abilities, interests, etc., commensurate with their capacities: See late bloomer.
She was a quiet, methodical child who became a late bloomer.
An Americanism dating to 1850–55; named after A.J. Bloomer
First recorded in 1720–30; bloom 1 + -er 1
First recorded in 1885–90; bloom(ing) (as euphemism for bloody ) + -er 1
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I’m a late bloomer and worried I’m still missing out on living by being stuck in these idealized fantasies of what love could be.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
Deniz Undav is Germany’s unstoppable late bloomer, who scores more frequently than Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
A 64-year-old late bloomer who arrived in Bloomington with a cocky press conference and group of James Madison transfers, Cignetti delivered swagger, talent and a gift for navigating college football’s turbulent, transfer-happy economy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 10, 2026
Merrill Kelly, 37, SP, 2.9, 15.8: A late bloomer who became a stalwart starter for the Diamondbacks for years, Kelly might be restricted to a two-year deal because of his age.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2025
“You’re a late bloomer, that’s all. Winston Churchill was a late bloomer and so are you.”
From "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman
While this is an exciting opportunity, Dr Bloomer encourages people to make a habit of gazing at the night sky.
From BBC ● Feb. 25, 2025
"We're looking at climate change, habitat loss, and international spread of invasive species and disease," Bloomer said.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 25, 2024
That's why Ion, Bloomer, and their collaborators think the new global crayfish atlas will make a difference.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 25, 2024
Dr Fiona Bloomer from Ulster University said there is still a lot of stigma in Northern Ireland around abortion which prevents couples and families talking openly about their experience.
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2024
Then his rolling gait retreated into the fog as the great red Bloomer engine huffed into the station, billowing steam.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
