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.

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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

Barr is batty even by internet standards, French points out, as she’s a birther, a 9/11 truther, and every other form of -er.

From Slate • May 29, 2018

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

Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary, tried to make the case to reporters on Friday that Mr. Obama was not particularly consumed by the long birther debate.

From New York Times • Sep. 18, 2016