juggler
Americannoun
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jugglers
plural
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a person who performs juggling feats, as with balls or knives.
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a person who deceives by trickery; trickster.
noun
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a person who juggles, esp a professional entertainer
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a person who fraudulently manipulates facts or figures
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of juggler
before 1100; Middle English jogelour, jogeler, jugelour < Anglo-French jogelour, jugelur, Old French jogleor, jougleor ( see jongleur) ≪ Latin joculātor joker, equivalent to joculā ( rī ) ( see juggle) + -tor -tor; replacing Old English gēogelere magician, cognate with German Gaukler, both directly < Latin, as above
Explanation
A juggler is someone who can toss and catch several objects at once, always keeping at least one of them in the air at any given moment. If you want to become a juggler, try juggling tennis balls instead of fiery torches. Watching a juggler perform can be awe-inspiring, especially if she's juggling knives or some other dangerous set of objects. You can become a juggler simply by learning to juggle, and professional jugglers can work for circuses or perform for money at festivals and street fairs. Juggler, jester, and wizard all once shared a meaning as well as a root, the Old English geogelere, "magician or conjurer."
Vocabulary lists containing juggler
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.
See Examples For:
Ivan Pecel, a world-champion juggler and comedian from California, has performed on ships since the age of 19 and about a quarter of his gigs are at sea.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 30, 2026
Dating back to the late 18th century, “hoax” seems to derive from what a conjurer or juggler might say, a truncation of “hocus pocus,” utilized to divert the attention of an audience.
From Salon ● Dec. 28, 2025
There was a rock band, strobe lights, and a juggler.
From Slate ● Dec. 23, 2025
That magnificence overpowers everything that went before it, which includes fabulous dance, arresting puppetry and outstanding singing actors, including Kang Wang, as Monkey, an impressive juggler in his own right.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 1, 2025
“I never knew your juggler existed until this very moment ... but yes, I am sorry he is dead.”
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
Around 20 jugglers, trapeze artists and concession stand workers are filtering into the big top that the majestic Circus Vargas uses to perform across 25 California cities 11 months out of the year.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2024
Circus Abyssinia: Tulu, a new production from the Ethiopian troupe of aerialists and jugglers, has a noon matinee at the New Victory Theater.
From New York Times ● Dec. 22, 2022
"Something we have seen is the disappearance of performers due to the bins overflowing. Normally the Grassmarket would be full of performers and jugglers."
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2022
The mood inside Pumpkin Ridge was light, with jugglers and other entertainment, interactive fan activities and food carts offering an array of cuisines.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 1, 2022
Next, a troop of jugglers with polished spheres of gold, which they hurl up high jn flashing flights, and catch, and hurl again, making' fountain-jets of bright jugglery.
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
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