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• bloomer
  bloomer

  noun

  an outfit for women, advocated about 1850 by Amelia Jenks Bloomer, consisting of a short skirt, loose trousers gathered and buttoned at the ankle, and often a coat and a wide hat.
• Bloomer
  Bloomer

  noun

  Amelia Jenks 1818–94, U.S. social reformer and women's-rights leader.

bloomer

¹ American  

[bloo-mer] / ˈblu mər /

noun

1. an outfit for women, advocated about 1850 by Amelia Jenks Bloomer, consisting of a short skirt, loose trousers gathered and buttoned at the ankle, and often a coat and a wide hat.

2. (used with a plural verb) bloomers,

   1. loose trousers gathered at the knee, formerly worn by women as part of a gymnasium, riding, or other sports outfit.

   2. women's underpants of similar, but less bulky, design.

   3. the trousers of a bloomer outfit.

   4. any of various women's garments with full-cut legs gathered at the bottom edge.

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adjective

1. (of a woman's garment) having full-cut legs gathered at the bottom edge.

   bloomer shorts.

bloomer ² American  

[bloo-mer] / ˈblu mər /

noun

1. a plant that blooms.

   a night bloomer.

2. a person who develops skills, abilities, interests, etc., commensurate with their capacities: See late bloomer.

   She was a quiet, methodical child who became a late bloomer.

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bloomer ³ American  

[bloo-mer] / ˈblu mər /

noun

1. a foolish mistake; blunder.

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Bloomer ⁴ American  

[bloo-mer] / ˈblu mər /

noun

1. Amelia Jenks 1818–94, U.S. social reformer and women's-rights leader.

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bloomer ¹ British  

/ ˈbluːmə /

noun

1. a plant that flowers, esp in a specified way

   a night bloomer

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bloomer ² British  

/ ˈbluːmə /

noun

1. informal a stupid mistake; blunder

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bloomer ³ British  

/ ˈbluːmə /

noun

1. a medium-sized loaf, baked on the sole of the oven, glazed and notched on top

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Etymology

Origin of bloomer¹

An Americanism dating to 1850–55; named after A.J. Bloomer

Origin of bloomer²

First recorded in 1720–30; bloom ¹ + -er ¹

Origin of bloomer³

First recorded in 1885–90; bloom(ing) (as euphemism for bloody ) + -er ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bloomer Bloomer

This upcoming bloom spotlights a plant nicknamed Odora, who last opened in 2024, and Odorysseus, a rookie public bloomer.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026

Deniz Undav is Germany’s unstoppable late bloomer, who scores more frequently than Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

A 64-year-old late bloomer who arrived in Bloomington with a cocky press conference and group of James Madison transfers, Cignetti delivered swagger, talent and a gift for navigating college football’s turbulent, transfer-happy economy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 10, 2026

Yet Wissa is a late bloomer rather than someone entering the twilight of his career.

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2025

Shortly afterward, Harriet had someone write a letter to Franklin B. Sanborn in Boston, asking for a bloomer dress because long skirts were a handicap on an expedition.

From "Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad" by Ann Petry

Dr Bloomer says "significant sunspot activity" is visible with solar filtering but that you need magnification when viewing with the naked eye.

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

While this is an exciting opportunity, Dr Bloomer encourages people to make a habit of gazing at the night sky.

From BBC ● Feb. 25, 2025

"Uranus is technically visible with the naked eye, but you'd need perfect eyesight and ideal conditions," Dr Bloomer explains.

From BBC ● Feb. 25, 2025

Bloomer says this spatial scale is meaningful for conservation planning efforts but masks the exact locations where sensitive or imperiled species were found.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 25, 2024

Stanton didn’t challenge Bloomer to take a stronger stand on women’s rights in the Lily, but she did try to work feminist ideas into her articles.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling