drummer
Americannoun
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a person who plays a drum or set of drums
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a salesman, esp a travelling salesman
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slang the slowest shearer in a team
Etymology
Origin of drummer
Explanation
A drummer is a musician who plays the drums. The drummer in a rock band might play a huge set of many different drums and other percussion instruments. A professional drummer could play in a marching band, a classical symphony, or a country and western group. A casual drummer can be someone who taps on the bongoes in a city park or takes drumming lessons and practices in her basement. The word drummer comes from drum, which has a Germanic, imitative root — it's a word that sounds like its meaning.
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.
For all of this weekend's games, he takes on two Manchester City fans - frontman and guitarist Tom Ogden and drummer Joe Donovan from indie band Blossoms - and a Chelsea supporter - rapper Songer.
From BBC • May 14, 2026
Drummers love to say that you’re their favorite drummer.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026
Unlike the Redondo Union trio, he doesn’t surf and plays no instruments even though his Redondo Union friends are looking for a drummer to start a band.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026
“Let There Be Love” finds the drummer using his hands on his tom-toms to make them sound like congas, giving the track an Erroll Garner flavor.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026
Getting into the All-City band is a big, big deal, especially for a drummer — because there are six trumpeters, five saxes, four trombones, et cetera, but only two drummers.
From "Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie" by Jordan Sonnenblick
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.
