dodger

[doj-er]

noun

1. a person who dodges.

2. a shifty person, especially one who persistently evades a responsibility, as specified.

   tax dodger; draft dodger.

3. a leafhopper.

4. a small handbill; throwaway.

5. Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S.,  corn dodger.

6. Nautical.,  a shield, as of canvas, erected on a flying bridge to protect persons on watch from wind, flying spray, etc.

7. Australian.,  a large slice, lump, or portion of food, especially of bread.

dodger

/ ˈdɒdʒə /

noun

1. a person who evades or shirks

2. a shifty dishonest person

3. a canvas shelter, mounted on a ship's bridge or over the companionway of a sailing yacht to protect the helmsman from bad weather

4. archaic,  a handbill

5. informal,  food, esp bread

Word History and Origins

Origin of dodger¹

First recorded in 1560–70; dodge + -er ¹

Example Sentences

The mass demonstration follows a recent crackdown on ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers, with thousands of call-up notices ignored in recent months and several deserters imprisoned.

Read more on Barron's

In 1988, I won the office pool and with my hundred dollar winnings I bought myself a dodger hat, which is long gone, and a World Series T-shirt, which I have to this day.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Hundreds of U.S. generals summoned to Marine headquarters in Virginia to hear what a former Fox News personality and a five-time draft dodger want to demand of them.

Read more on Salon

A prolific rail fare dodger who was caught without a train ticket more than 100 times has had his sentencing delayed after a judge raised concerns over the legal process.

Read more on BBC

The Liberal Democrats are calling for fines of up to £1,000 for "headphone dodgers" who play loud music and videos on public transport.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• charlatan 
• con artist 
• crook 
• hypocrite 
• impostor 
• rascal 
• rogue 
• swindler 
• trickster