drummer

American  

[druhm-er] / ˈdrʌm ər /

noun

1. a person who plays a drum.

2. a commercial traveler or traveling sales representative.

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idioms

1. march to a different drummer, to be motivated by a different set of values than the average person.

drummer British  

/ ˈdrʌmə /

noun

1. a person who plays a drum or set of drums

2. a salesman, esp a travelling salesman

3. slang the slowest shearer in a team

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drummer More Idioms  

1. see march to a different beat (drummer).

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Etymology

Origin of drummer

First recorded in 1565–75; drum ¹ + -er ¹

Explanation

A drummer is a musician who plays the drums. The drummer in a rock band might play a huge set of many different drums and other percussion instruments. A professional drummer could play in a marching band, a classical symphony, or a country and western group. A casual drummer can be someone who taps on the bongoes in a city park or takes drumming lessons and practices in her basement. The word drummer comes from drum, which has a Germanic, imitative root — it's a word that sounds like its meaning.

Example Sentences

He turned to the audience for questions, but only found McCartney there, who still couldn’t tell the difference between the host and the drummer.

From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2026

They added the drummer and began blending acoustic music with electronic sounds, some of which were altered fragments of what Messrs. Moran and Gilmore had just played.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

Unlike the Redondo Union trio, he doesn’t surf and plays no instruments even though his Redondo Union friends are looking for a drummer to start a band.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026

The York supporters were still singing, their drummer still drumming.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026

After two songs, the fiddle and horn carried on alone while the drummer went around hat in hand ungraciously accepting the pennies doled out to him.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith