birther
Americannoun
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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.
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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
Etymology
Origin of birther
First recorded in 2005–10; birth ( def. ) + -er 1 ( def. )
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.
And Mr. Christie writes that he knows Mr. Trump was furious after he was laughed at during the White House Correspondents Dinner in 2011, when Mr. Obama roasted him over his birther crusade.
From New York Times • Nov. 13, 2021
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
The last time I talked to him was when I went on CNN and criticized him after the birther stuff, and he has never called me again.
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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
