canvasser

American  

[kan-vuhs-er] / ˈkæn vəs ər /

noun

1. a person who solicits votes, subscriptions, donations, opinions, or the like, especially by phone or door-to-door.

   Besides raising funds, canvassers also leave important information for residents regarding heart health.

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Etymology

Origin of canvasser

First recorded in 1595–1605, for an earlier sense; 1790–1800, for the current sense; canvass ( def. ) + -er ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Tonight, I’m shadowing Elly Mui, who’s been with the campaign since January—first as a paid canvasser in the run-up to the primary, which Mamdani won in a surprise upset, and as a volunteer ever since.

From Slate • Oct. 27, 2025

One canvasser said he was paid $25 an hour and found the job on Craigslist.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2025

Sanchez, 27, worked as a paid canvasser for the Democratic Party of Georgia in 2020 and as an organizer for the “Stop Cop City” effort.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 1, 2024

The canvasser was holding a Confederate flag when he was detained by police.

From Washington Times • Nov. 1, 2022

Immediately the advertisement canvasser was sent for, M. Blanc having refused to farm out that department to an agency, as is frequently done in Paris, in order to retain the absolute control over it.

From An Englishman in Paris Notes and Recollections by Albert D.