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Synonyms

bowler

1 American  
[boh-ler] / ˈboʊ lər /

noun

  1. a person who bowl, especially a participant in a bowling game, as candlepins or tenpins.

  2. Cricket. the player who throws the ball to be played by the batsman.

bowler 2 American  
[boh-ler] / ˈboʊ lər /

noun

Chiefly British.

  1. derby.

bowler 1 British  
/ ˈbəʊlə /

noun

  1. one who bowls in cricket

  2. a player at the game of bowls

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
bowler 2 British  
/ ˈbəʊlə /

noun

  1. US and Canadian name: derby.  a stiff felt hat with a rounded crown and narrow curved brim

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
bowler 3 British  
/ ˈbaʊlə /

noun

  1. dialect a dog

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of bowler1

First recorded in 1490–1500; bowl 2 + -er 1

Origin of bowler2

First recorded in 1860–65; bowl 1 + -er 1

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.

Durham bowler Matthew Potts and Kent batter Zak Crawley are set to meet at Chester-le-Street.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

New Zealand seamer Jacob Duffy, playing in the place of injured Australia bowler Josh Hazlewood, was impressive for his 3-22.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

Cameron Crowe, a cheery Black bowler, is the newer kid, good enough to play in this company, but with no PBA titles to his name.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 16, 2026

Jacks has repeatedly dug England from tricky situations, batting in the finisher role at number seven and filling the duties of the extra bowler behind captain Harry Brook's frontline five.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

The demon Idiptu took off his bowler hat as he waddled in on his thick bowed legs.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda

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.