gofer

American  

[goh-fer] / ˈgoʊ fər /

Or go-fer,

noun

Slang.

1. an employee whose chief duty is running errands.

---

gofer British  

/ ˈɡəʊfə /

noun

1. slang an employee or assistant whose duties include menial tasks such as running errands

---

Etymology

Origin of gofer

1965–70; respelling of go for (verb phrase), with -er representing both vowel reduction in for and -er ¹

Explanation

A gofer is someone whose job involves running various errands. A gofer in an office might deliver messages and fetch coffee, among other tasks. If you work as a gofer on a movie set, your job might include delivering updated script pages to actors, buying crew members lunch, or tracking down small props or costume parts. The word describes anyone whose job is as a "guy (or gal) Friday," basically doing any little task that needs to be done. The word was coined in the 1950s, from the sense of "go for," and echoing the word gopher.

Example Sentences

Nauta frequently served as a kind of gofer, fetching any items the president might need throughout the day and tidying up the room, the former staffer said.

From Washington Post • Oct. 13, 2022

Jimmy, of course, insists on bringing Chuck everything he needs despite Chuck reminding Jimmy that he has the means to hire a gofer.

From Salon • Aug. 16, 2022

A kind teacher told him about a gofer gig at the local repertory theater and boom, he was home.

From New York Times • Jan. 21, 2022

Sondheim, who served as a gofer during summer rehearsals for the 1947 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “Allegro,” graduated from Williams College in Williamstown, Mass., with a bachelor’s degree in music in 1950.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 26, 2021

He tried to keep himself calm, but by the time a gofer commed him and squirted directions to the main ballroom, he was a wreck.

From Super Man and the Bug Out by Doctorow, Cory

Related Words

• gopher