bulldozer

American  

[bool-doh-zer] / ˈbʊlˌdoʊ zər /

noun

1. a large, powerful tractor having a vertical blade at the front end for moving earth, tree stumps, rocks, etc.

2. a person who intimidates or coerces.

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bulldozer British  

/ ˈbʊlˌdəʊzə /

noun

1. a powerful tractor fitted with caterpillar tracks and a blade at the front, used for moving earth, rocks, etc

2. informal a person who bulldozes

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Usage

What does bulldozer mean? A bulldozer is a large tractor that has a big, blade-like shovel at the front and moves around using metal tracks over wheels. A bulldozer is a kind of earthmover—they are typically used to move earth and clear debris from an area. They are sometimes called dozers for short. Less commonly, bulldozer can also mean a person who intentionally tries to intimidate others. In fact, this was its original use, first recorded in the 1870s. The verb bulldoze comes from around the same time. Today, bulldoze typically means to use a bulldozer, such as to move dirt or clear an area, or, more figuratively, to move forward or advance in an aggressive or forceful way. However, bulldoze originally meant to intimidate, such as with threats of violence. Early records of this use refer to violent attacks, especially whipping, against African Americans by white people in the Southern United States. However, the origin of these words, and how bulldozer came to be a name for a type of tractor, is ultimately unclear.

Etymology

Origin of bulldozer

1875–80, 1925–30 in the sense “tractor”; origin uncertain. See bulldoze ( def. )

Explanation

A bulldozer is a large truck with a wide blade that can dig and push dirt and debris. You'll often see a bulldozer among the vehicles on a construction site. Although many people have a tendency to call any giant truck a bulldozer, it's actually a specific kind of tractor with a blade called a "dozer blade" at the front and a big claw, or "ripper" at the back. A bulldozer can run over any rubble or trash and clear it away — this ability led to the slang meaning of the word, "powerful, intimidating person."

Example Sentences

Valuable evidence was also lost when, just days after the collision, a bulldozer levelled the site.

From Barron's • Mar. 23, 2026

“Over the last eight to 10 years or so the Legislature and the governor have really taken a bulldozer to a lot of the bureaucratic hurdles when it comes to housing,” said Wicks.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2026

“We need an excavator or bulldozer to remove the debris, so I can search for my husband and daughter,” Ajjour said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 9, 2025

"It's a sad fact that in archaeology today, you're almost always trailing behind someone's bulldozer," Kidder said.

From Science Daily • Nov. 24, 2025

There was a crashing sound in the forest to our left, like a bulldozer.

From "The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan