bummer
1 Americannoun
noun
-
the unpleasant aftermath of taking narcotic drugs, especially frightening hallucinations or unpleasant physical sensations.
-
any unpleasant or disappointing experience.
That concert was a real bummer.
interjection
noun
-
an unpleasant or disappointing experience
-
a vagrant or idler
-
an adverse reaction to a drug, characterized by panic or fear
Etymology
Origin of bummer1
An Americanism first recorded in 1850–55; probably from German Bummler, derivative with -er noun suffix ( see -er 1) of bummeln “to take a stroll, dawdle, loiter” (expressive verb of uncertain origin)
Origin of bummer2
Explanation
A bummer is a huge disappointment. It's a bummer when you try out for a big role in a play and don't end up getting it. The word bummer is a very casual way to describe or make note of a frustrating experience. You can say, "It was such a bummer when we missed the train," or respond to bad news by saying, "Bummer!" The current meaning is from 1960s slang, but in the 1880s a bummer was a "loafer" or "idle person," probably from the German slang word bummler, "loafer."
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.
Pondering the potential heat death of humanity is a bummer of a way to start the week, I know.
From Slate ● Sep. 14, 2026
That’s a bummer for the engineers developing humanoids with miraculous applications, like autonomous disaster-response bots.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
Well, Carney’s made a movie about darkness and it’s a total bummer.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 28, 2026
While owners can turn off the banner ads, doing so eliminates the widget altogether, a bummer for Brian Bosworth, a media-industry engineer who liked the feature.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 23, 2026
That was kind of a bummer, but okay.
From "Wonder" by R. J. Palacio
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.
