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

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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

Lee can hardly believe it when, after Chris tells the young Socialists about the CIA’s imminent destabilization plot, one of them invites the codger to sit down for a chat while she is sunning herself.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 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

And this is how I turned into a cliché: the old codger who buys a car wistfully recalled from his youth.

From New York Times ● Oct. 14, 2021

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

The old codger was sitting on a box with his Bible on his knees.

From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers

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