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

Now, the next adventure of the fierce bounty hunter and his adorable young charge will be the franchise’s first big-screen installment since the sequel trilogy wrapped with “Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 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

“He doesn’t know; he doesn’t suspect; he doesn’t have the slightest idea. Otherwise he couldn’t live out a life as a bounty hunter, a human occupation—hardly an android occupation.”

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