corker

American  

[kawr-ker] / ˈkɔr kər /

noun

1. a person or thing that corks.

2. Informal. something that closes a discussion or settles a question.

3. Informal. someone or something that is astonishing or excellent.

---

corker British  

/ ˈkɔːkə /

noun

1. slang

   1. something or somebody striking or outstanding

      that was a corker of a joke

   2. an irrefutable remark that puts an end to discussion

2. a person or machine that inserts corks

---

Etymology

Origin of corker

First recorded in 1715–25; cork + -er ¹; corker defs. 2, 3 of unclear relation to corker def. 1 and perhaps of distinct origin

Example Sentences

With its lawyerly shenanigans and emotional poignancy, “A Case of Life and Limb” is a real corker, as a policeman who sometimes counsels Gabriel might say.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 5, 2025

The Lib Dems had a corker of a 2024.

From BBC • Dec. 30, 2024

Since the “Avatar” movies are shot mainly via motion capture, Cameron crafted a whole new role for Weaver, and it’s a corker: She plays Kiri, a 14-year-old, blue-skinned alien.

From New York Times • Oct. 28, 2022

I’m both anxious and excited for people to see it, because it’s an absolute corker of an ending.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 8, 2021

He came up with a corker: a theogony that transformed the Mexica into keepers of the cosmic order.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann