dumpster

American  

[duhmp-ster] / ˈdʌmp stər /

Or Dumpster

noun

dumpsters plural

1. a large metal or plastic bin for refuse designed to be hoisted onto a specially equipped truck for emptying or hauling away.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• dumpsters
  plural

Etymology

Origin of dumpster

First recorded in 1935–40; dump ( def. ) + -ster ( def. ), originally part of the jingle “Dempster Dumpster, ” a trademark for a large trash container manufactured by the Dempster Brothers Company in Knoxville, Tennessee

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

dumpster dumpsters

Last year, a campaign called “Malört Tastes Like” featured consumer comparisons to “fermented back sweat” and “moist dumpster residue.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

Elyjah was found July 12 in the dumpster behind 8215 Van Nuys Blvd. by a person searching for recyclables, according to the report.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 29, 2026

“It’s been a dumpster fire of a year,” he said.

From Slate ● Apr. 20, 2026

And so-called artificial intelligence, of course, is adding napalm to this dumpster fire.

From Salon ● Mar. 25, 2026

“Nah. It’s safety glass. Besides, all those years of dumpster diving makes a dog tough. Scruffy, Tater, and me did a quick sweep of the kennels.”

From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein

The first large group appeared near the dumpsters behind the police station.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026

He parked right next to two dumpsters, and the tents—how many?

From Slate ● Mar. 25, 2026

He said it cost him $40,000 to hire a private contractor to gather up and dispose of several dumpsters of busted-up concrete.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 29, 2025

Terrified attendees fled through fields, hid behind trees and in dumpsters, videos of the scene showed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2025

There’s not much in our place, so I go out to the dumpsters.

From "Free Lunch" by Rex Ogle