geezer
Americannoun
noun
Usage
What does geezer mean? Geezer is a mildly negative slang term for a man, especially an older man who’s considered odd in some way. In American slang, geezer almost always refers to an older man and is especially used in the phrase old geezer. In British slang, geezer just refers to any man. In both cases, though, the term is used in a mildly insulting, dismissive way. Example: There’s always some old geezer standing on that street corner handing out weird pamphlets.
Etymology
Origin of geezer
1880–85; variant of guiser ( see guise (v.), -er 1 ), representing dial. pronunciation
Explanation
A geezer is an old person. It might hurt your grandfather's feelings if you refer to him as a geezer, since he thinks of himself as being youthful. Use the word geezer when you need an informal, slightly rude word for "wacky old man." If you're in the UK, you can call any man, whatever age he is, a geezer, but in the US it's specifically an old guy. The root of geezer is the now-obsolete Cockney word guiser, which means "mummer," or "masked mime or actor.
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.
Meanwhile, it’s happened: Waters herself is beginning to feel like a pickleball geezer.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025
"I'm feeling 100%, I feel very, very strong physically. My energy's very good, so for an old geezer, I'm in a good spot."
From BBC • Sep. 9, 2025
A geezer with a baby who acts more like an employer.
From Salon • Oct. 27, 2023
Get ready for an incoming population of geezer politicians, some say.
From Washington Times • Aug. 31, 2023
Nick pushed them back toward the old geezer, shaking his head.
From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols
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.
