boomer

American  

[boo-mer] / ˈbu mər /

noun

1. Informal. baby boomer.

2. a period of sudden and decisive economic growth.

   July was a boomer for the retail trade.

3. a person who settles in areas or towns that are undergoing a period of rapid economic or population growth.

   He was among the first boomers to settle in the town when it began to grow.

4. Informal. a person, fad, etc., that enjoys a brief popularity or financial success.

   This season's hit album turned the group into a boomer.

5. a person or thing that booms.

   These speakers are real boomers with an amazing balance of bass to treble.

6. an enthusiastic supporter; booster.

   The boomers tell us our town can double its size.

7. Australian. a fully grown male kangaroo, especially a large one.

8. Navy Slang. a submarine that can fire intercontinental ballistic missiles and especially those equipped with a nuclear warhead.

9. Informal: Older Use. a wandering or migratory worker; hobo.

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boomer British  

/ ˈbuːmə /

noun

1. a large male kangaroo

2. informal anything exceptionally large

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Etymology

Origin of boomer

First recorded in 1820–30; 1975–80 boomer for def. 1; boom ¹ + -er ¹

Explanation

A boomer is someone who was born during the two decades after World War II. Boomers are part of an unusually large generation. The term boomer is shorthand for baby boomer, the official name for a generation usually defined as spanning 1946 to 1964. These days, some younger people think of boomers as old and out of touch. Advertisers, however, are eager to win their attention because, on average, they have money to spend — and because there are so many of them. The "boom" part of the word comes from the sharp spike in U.S. birth rates after World War II ended.

Example Sentences

The four-episode revival, “Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair,” premiered Friday on Hulu, and according to series creator Linwood Boomer, the whole thing was Cranston’s idea.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

Although the number of younger women who believe wives should obey their husbands was lower than their male counterparts, the proportion was still higher than Boomer men.

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

Sean Hannity took a similar tack, posting his thoughts in Boomer capitalization.

From Salon • Feb. 23, 2026

CBS is shaking up its Sunday studio show ‘The NFL Today,’ with Matt Ryan joining the crew in place of departing longtime analysts Boomer Esiason and Phil Simms.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2024

As soon as we reach the sidewalk, Boomer leaps toward a squirrel, which scampers up a nearby oak tree.

From "How to Disappear Completely" by Ali Standish