codger

American  

[koj-er] / ˈkɒdʒ ər /

noun

1. an eccentric man, especially one who is old.

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codger British  

/ ˈkɒdʒə /

noun

1. informal a man, esp an old or eccentric one: a term of affection or mild derision (often in the phrase old codger )

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Etymology

Origin of codger

1750–60; perhaps variant of obsolete cadger; see cadge ¹

Explanation

A codger is an endearing old guy. Your tiny, eccentric grandfather might be thought of as a codger by his neighbors. You can use codger to talk about a funny old man, especially if you're fond of him. While it's common for codger to be a term of affection, it may be seen as derogatory by the person labeled that way, so it's best to use it cautiously. You might laugh with your siblings about the codger next door, but you should probably do it quietly. The word stems from cadger, which is a now-obsolete word for "beggar."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

codger

Providing a nonstop stream of eccentric social commentary, improbable memories and terrible jokes, Harry is an amiable codger who has no filter whatsoever.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026

When I asked Winston how she and others had made the shirts so quickly, she looked at me like the codger I am:

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2022

That old codger will coach in a fresh place after all this time: the Golden State Warriors’ house by the Central Basin of the San Francisco Bay, a 2½-year-old toddler among arenas.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 20, 2022

Johnson says that you have three options when it comes to adoption: “another old codger, a pair of kittens, or nothing at all.”

From Slate ● May 30, 2019

He was more like some gabby old codger who would sit next to you on a bus and try to show you bits of paper he kept folded in his wallet.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt