gaffer
Americannoun
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the chief electrician on the set of a movie or television show.
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Informal. an old man.
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British Informal.
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a boss, supervisor, or manager.
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a foreman or overseer in charge of a group of physical laborers.
a factory gaffer.
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the coach or manager of a sports team.
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Glassmaking. a master glassblower responsible for shaping glassware.
noun
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an old man, esp one living in the country: often used affectionately or patronizingly Compare gammer
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informal a boss, foreman, or owner of a factory, mine, etc
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the senior electrician on a television or film set
Etymology
Origin of gaffer
First recorded in 1565–75; contraction of godfather
Explanation
A gaffer is a member of a movie or television crew. The gaffer runs the production's electrical department. One of the jobs credited at the end of a film is the gaffer. A gaffer is responsible for the electricity that powers the lights, so her job is vital to the success of the movie. You can also call a gaffer a Chief Lighting Technician, and you can call her assistant a Best Boy. The word gaffer is also sometimes used to mean "old man," which is the oldest meaning of the word, originally a contraction of godfather.
Vocabulary lists containing gaffer
Theater - Middle School
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Theater - High School
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Kings of B'More
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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.
One commentator wrote "can't lie the new gaffer is winning me over" using slang for a boss.
From Barron's ● Aug. 16, 2026
Meanwhile, Malcolm, armed with an old photo of himself and the former gaffer, said his legendary status went beyond the pitch.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
Wright admits his old gaffer was "surprised" about his post-football career.
From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026
Working with gaffer Jim Plannette, Schiffman referenced classic films while adding his own interpretation, capturing the sequence on 35mm color film stock and converting it to black and white.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026
‘Well, you can’t say fairer than that,’ said the gaffer.
From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
