drummer

American  

[druhm-er] / ˈdrʌm ər /

noun

• drummers
  plural

1. a person who plays a drum.

2. a commercial traveler or traveling sales representative.

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idioms

1. march to a different drummer, to be motivated by a different set of values than the average person.

drummer British  

/ ˈdrʌmə /

noun

1. a person who plays a drum or set of drums

2. a salesman, esp a travelling salesman

3. slang the slowest shearer in a team

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drummer More Idioms  

1. see march to a different beat (drummer).

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• drummers
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of drummer

First recorded in 1565–75; drum ¹ + -er ¹

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Explanation

A drummer is a musician who plays the drums. The drummer in a rock band might play a huge set of many different drums and other percussion instruments. A professional drummer could play in a marching band, a classical symphony, or a country and western group. A casual drummer can be someone who taps on the bongoes in a city park or takes drumming lessons and practices in her basement. The word drummer comes from drum, which has a Germanic, imitative root — it's a word that sounds like its meaning.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

drummer drummers

The atmosphere resembled a football terrace, with a drummer and trumpeter accompanying fans singing Sheffield Wednesday songs.

From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026

Earlier this year, the chair of the Featured Artists Coalition and Blur drummer David Rowntree told the BBC is was "virtually impossible now to make touring pay for itself".

From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026

They’re caught here at full strength near the end of that run, after saxophonist Chris Potter had taken over for Steve Wilson, and drummer Nate Smith stepped in for Billy Kilson.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026

He founded the band alongside bassist Rick Stockton, violinist Siegfried Carver and drummer Mike Safron, according to the band’s website.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

“You’ll be a drummer, a singer. I’ll dance for you,” she said.

From "The Birchbark House" by Louise Erdrich

London's Notting Hill Carnival celebrated its 60th anniversary with hundreds of dancers, drummers and other performers celebrating Caribbean arts and culture.

From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026

There’s parts where the drummers come to the front and I go to the back, which you would never have in a regular kind of show where the drummer’s stuck on a riser.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026

"Not a single blow is random," he explains as a trio of craftsmen land expert strikes that create the darker more complex tones so prized by jazz drummers.

From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026

On “An Eraser and a Maze,” which features a rotating cast of drummers, including touring percussionist Damon Cox and Janet Weiss of Quasi and Sleater-Kinney, the pendulum swings in the opposite direction.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2026

It has none of the life and voice our drummers were able to coax from a drum, Amari thought.

From "Copper Sun" by Sharon M. Draper

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