glutton

¹ American  

[gluht-n] / ˈglʌt n /

noun

1. a person who eats and drinks excessively or voraciously.

   Synonyms:

   chowhound, gastronome, gourmand

2. a person with a remarkably great desire or capacity for something.

   a glutton for work;

   a glutton for punishment.

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glutton ² American  

[gluht-n] / ˈglʌt n /

noun

1. the wolverine, Gulo gulo, of Europe.

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glutton ¹ British  

/ ˈɡlʌtən /

noun

1. a person devoted to eating and drinking to excess; greedy person

2. ironic a person who has or appears to have a voracious appetite for something

   a glutton for punishment

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glutton ² British  

/ ˈɡlʌtən /

noun

1. another name for wolverine

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Other Word Forms

• gluttonous adjective
• gluttonously adverb

Etymology

Origin of glutton¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English glutun, from Old French glouton, from Latin gluttōn-, stem of gluttō, variant of glūtō, akin to glūtīre “to gulp down”

Origin of glutton²

First recorded in 1665–75; translation of German Vielfraß, from viel “much” (cognate with obsolete English fele; plus ( def. ) ) + fraß “eater” (noun derivative of fressen “to eat” (used of animals); fress ( def. ), fret ¹ ( def. ) )

Explanation

Do you like to eat and drink — I mean, really like to eat and drink? Then you might be a glutton. We all have our favorite foods and drinks, but some people are a little more into it than others — these people are gluttons. Someone who's a glutton because they just eat too much is different from a gourmet or gourmand, who enjoys only the best food. This word also is used in phrases like "glutton for punishment," which you might say about a student who asks for extra homework.

Example Sentences

He was a large man, over 6 feet tall, and, we learn from Mr. Margolick, a glutton.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 14, 2025

Like a moth to a flame, there is just something about all that color and texture; I am a glutton for disappointment where fruitcake is concerned.

From Salon • Dec. 21, 2023

“I guess I’m just a glutton for punishment,” Hough said with a laugh during a video interview from Minneapolis.

From New York Times • Nov. 19, 2023

The budding chain would appear to be an opportunity for Taffer to put his money where his big mouth is, though you have to wonder if the man is, perhaps, just a glutton for punishment.

From Washington Post • Oct. 17, 2022

Because I am both a glutton and a masochist, my standard complaint, “That was so bad," is always followed by “And there was so little of it!"

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris