birther

American  

[bur-ther] / ˈbɜr θər /

noun

1. a person who claims that the presidency of Barack Obama was unconstitutional, citing a belief that he was not born in the United States, or denying the authenticity of his birth certificate.

2. a person who claims that a former or current U.S. president or vice president, or a candidate for either office, was not born in the United States, questioning that person’s eligibility to hold the office.

---

Other Word Forms

• birtherism noun

Etymology

Origin of birther

First recorded in 2005–10; birth ( def. ) + -er ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Flashback to 2011, when after taking a ribbing from headliner Seth Meyers, President Obama stood at the podium and riffed about many things, including the birther conspiracy.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 23, 2018

You point out in the book that the birther thing was never a big thing for him.

From Slate • Jul. 24, 2017

For Obama, the birther nonsense has given him some of his best material.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 26, 2016

In 2008 and 2009, most traditional newspapers and news broadcasts continued to ignore the birther story.

From The New Yorker • Nov. 4, 2016

Mr. Gingrich said he had seen Mr. Trump until then as “a guy who is getting publicity, playing a game with the birther stuff and enjoying the limelight.”

From New York Times • Mar. 12, 2016