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  • skinner
    skinner
    noun
    a person or thing that skins.
  • Skinner
    Skinner
    noun
    B(urrhus) F(rederic) 1904–90, U.S. psychologist and writer.
Synonyms

skinner

1 American  
[skin-er] / ˈskɪn ər /

noun

  • skinners
    plural
  1. a person or thing that skins.

  2. a person who prepares or deals in skins or hides.

  3. a person who drives draft animals, as mules or oxen.

  4. the operator of a piece of heavy equipment used in clearing land or in construction work, as a tractor or bulldozer.

  5. any of a band of irregular cavalry operating in the neutral ground of Westchester County, New York, during the American Revolution and claiming loyalty to both the British and American troops but preying on all persons indiscriminately.


Skinner 2 American  
[skin-er] / ˈskɪn ər /

noun

  1. B(urrhus) F(rederic) 1904–90, U.S. psychologist and writer.

  2. Cornelia Otis, 1901–79, U.S. actress and author.

  3. her father Otis, 1858–1942, U.S. actor.


Skinner 1 British  
/ ˈskɪnə /

noun

  1. B ( urrhus ) F ( rederic ). 1904–90, US behavioural psychologist. His "laws of learning", derived from experiments with animals, have been widely applied to education and behaviour therapy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

skinner 2 British  
/ ˈskɪnə /

noun

  1. a person who prepares or deals in animal skins

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of skinner

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at skin, -er 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Once the vet finished the external inspection, the skinner would gently comb through the animal's fur with a metal instrument to remove dust and matted blood.

From Salon Jan. 12, 2022

Dale Firm, a 57-year-old fish skinner for Campo, said he likely faces a future of welfare and food stamps if the bills pass.

From Washington Times Feb. 21, 2020

He worked as a “lumper,” bringing boxes of fish from the boats, then as a journeyman, wheeling them to the loading zones, then as a skinner, a cutter, a salesman, and, finally, a buyer.

From The New Yorker Aug. 1, 2019

He once successfully administered antivenin to a skinner who had been bitten by a snake, he wrote in a column for Sports Afield, and soldered a leaking radiator on a baggage truck.

From Washington Post Jan. 22, 2018

A young mule skinner named Milton Humason helped to transport mechanical and optical equipment, scientists, engineers and dignitaries up the mountain.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

Like rats in a Skinner box being conditioned to get food or stop pain, AI models hill-climb in a process similar to reinforcement learning, tweaking their parameters based on feedback.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 14, 2026

United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe faced backlash for his comments on the women's team and there was outrage at their training facilities in 2024, which Skinner defended at the time.

From BBC Aug. 3, 2026

Marc Skinner departs Manchester United with a win percentage of 60.84%

From BBC Aug. 3, 2026

While Skinner previously backed the club in the face of criticism, he challenged more last season on spending and it was clear he wanted more backing.

From BBC Aug. 3, 2026

“As if he had secrets. Sour Alyn, Luton, Skinner, and the rest, where does he think they came from? Can he truly believe they are his men?”

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

Inskip and her colleagues zeroed in on the medieval city of Winchester, which had not only skinners, tailors, and furriers, but also a hospital for leprosy patients.

From Science Magazine May 3, 2024

Everything began with personnel identified as "skinners," who would select an animal from the tarp and heave it onto a table.

From Salon Jan. 12, 2022

The milliner Stephen Jones said the same before a show of Edward Crutchley’s work, held inside a medieval guild hall devoted to London’s skinners, and most notable for its hats.

From New York Times Jan. 6, 2020

There skinners pounce on horses and mules, cats with good fur.

From Time Magazine Archive

But of Ed Hopkins, the prince of mule skinners, and Harry Powell the girl could get no trace.

From The She Boss A Western Story by Arthur Preston Hankins

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