grafter

¹ American

[graf-ter, grahf-] / ˈgræf tər, ˈgrɑf- /

noun

Horticulture. a person who combines plants by inserting a bud, shoot, or scion of one plant into a groove or slit in the stem or stock of another, where it continues to grow.

Join us for a fun time as newbies and seasoned grafters mingle and swap cuttings of various fruit trees.

grafter ² American

[graf-ter, grahf-] / ˈgræf tər, ˈgrɑf- /

noun

a person who obtains money or other advantage by dishonest, unfair, or illegal means, especially through the abuse of position or influence in politics, business, etc..

For 17 years she had been writing newspaper stories about grafters—crooked bankers, corrupt politicians, and the like—and winning armloads of journalism awards for it.
British Slang. a worker, especially a particularly industrious or dedicated worker.

To succeed in this job you also need to be a real grafter, someone eager for a chance to work hard in an ever-growing company.

Etymology

Origin of grafter¹

graft ¹ ( def. ) + -er ¹ ( def. )

Origin of grafter²

graft ² + -er ¹ ( def. )

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.

The couple, who had been together for 24 years, shared a "beautiful family and a granddaughter", Mrs Day said, describing her husband as "just a typical family man, a grafter and a gentle giant".

From BBC • Jul. 31, 2025

He went from working in the vineyards to becoming a master grafter and eventually owning land and opening his tasting room.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 5, 2023