bounty hunter

American  

noun

1. a person who hunts outlaws or wild animals for the bounty offered for capturing or killing them.

2. a person who seeks a reward for recovering valuable property.

3. Slang. a salesman or agent who works for a fee or commission.

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Etymology

Origin of bounty hunter

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

Chandran's character Nefertari Vivi, a blue-haired bounty hunter with a secret in her past, is introduced to viewers in season two.

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026

"Its final remuneration will depend on the number of people it has helped to detain and deport, much like a bounty hunter," it said.

From Barron's • Feb. 1, 2026

There’s not much to get here: bounty hunter, baby Yoda.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 1, 2026

Because the post-apocalyptic story of bounty hunter Joel and his adoptive daughter Ellie drew heavy influences from prestige TV shows, there was an obvious road map for bringing it to the screen.

From BBC • Dec. 17, 2025

Roy Baty snarled, “There’s a bounty hunter in the building! Get all the lights off. Get him away from that empathy box; he has to be ready at the door. Go on—move him!”

From "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick