gander
noun
the male of the goose.
Jump to:
gander
1 American
[gan-der]
/ ˈgæn dər /
noun
-
the male of the goose.
-
Slang. a look.
Take a gander at his new shoes.
Gander
2
American
[gan-der]
/ ˈgæn dər /
noun
gander
British
/ ˈɡændə /
noun
-
a male goose
-
informal a quick look (esp in the phrase take ( or have ) a gander )
-
informal a simpleton
gander
Idioms
Etymology
Origin of gander
before 1000; 1910–15 gander for def. 2; Middle English; Old English gan ( d ) ra; cognate with Middle Low German ganre, Dutch gander; akin to goose, German Gans
Explanation
A gander is a male goose, and also an insult meaning "simpleton," a bit like calling someone "a silly goose." Besides being the proper name for a male goose and a slang word for silly man, the word gander also shows up in the idiom "take a gander." The slang sense of gander comes from the meaning recorded in 1886, to take a long look by craning one's neck like a goose, or wander foolishly (again, like a goose).
Vocabulary lists containing gander
Charlotte's Web
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
A Streetcar Named Desire
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Clean Getaway
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Don’t take our word for it—take a gander at developments in commodity prices besides energy, or financial gaming parlors such as the private-credit market.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026
Go on and take a gander at the ingredients list.
From Salon • Nov. 25, 2024
Khem’s shift doesn’t start for another 15 minutes or so, but without complaint she walks behind the counter and takes a gander.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 3, 2023
A candy store in Ocean Shores, Washington, had an unusual visitor: A young buck wandered in through the automatic doors and took a gander at the confections on display.
From Washington Times • Aug. 29, 2023
This is when Scoob actually takes a gander at their surroundings.
From "Clean Getaway" by Nic Stone
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.
