dumpster
Americannoun
-
dumpsters
plural
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
My wife and children will have no trouble tossing all of my memories into a dumpster someday.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026
One of the most viscerally terrifying scenes of “Mulholland Drive” takes place behind the dumpster at the abandoned Caesar’s diner in Gardena.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
The couple spent their courtship sharing fun Covid-era activities, like stealing toilet paper, enjoying empty cinemas and stadiums, and taking selfies in front of dumpster fires, all to the tune of Taylor Swift’s “Love Story.”
From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2026
International fans who have lived with this flaming dumpster of technology have to chuckle at a Jason-come-lately discovering the bane of their existence.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
They were scraped up from when he tried to shove himself behind the dumpster.
From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste
Piling dumpsters, bins and barriers in front of their schools, or carrying often humorous signs at protests, pupils have complained about absent teachers, overloaded timetables, overcrowded classes and dilapidated classrooms, among other grievances.
From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026
He has over 14,000 denim items, some of which he saved from dumpsters, others were donated, and some are his own unwashed pairs of raw denim jeans.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026
Around small cities and suburbs, the predators follow their keen sense of smell to dumpsters, cars and homes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
He parked right next to two dumpsters, and the tents—how many?
From Slate ● Mar. 25, 2026
Through the double doors, I notice a familiar figure in the lobby and slow down, briefly debating whether I should go around to the back of the building, near the dumpsters.
From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali
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