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Synonyms

knocker

American  
[nok-er] / ˈnɒk ər /

noun

  • knockers
    plural
  1. a person or thing that knocks.

  2. a hinged knob, bar, etc., on a door, for use in knocking.

  3. Informal. a persistent and carping critic; faultfinder.

  4. Slang: Vulgar. a female breast.


idioms

  1. on the knocker, canvassing or selling door-to-door.

knocker British  
/ ˈnɒkə /

noun

  1. an object, usually ornamental and made of metal, attached to a door by a hinge and used for knocking

  2. informal a person who finds fault or disparages

  3. slang (usually plural) a female breast

  4. a person or thing that knocks

  5. informal promptly; at once

    you pay on the knocker here

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of knocker

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at knock, -er 1

Vocabulary lists containing knocker

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:

The site of the charred doors, with grilled peep hole and ancient heavy knocker, stirred no emotion in her.

From New York Times Mar. 31, 2023

"Stay close to Troy or they gonna think you're a knocker."

From Salon Aug. 21, 2021

“I’m a short knocker, but that Roberts hit the ball a mile. They knew they had the tournament in the bag, so they played like a couple of hackers on the 18th.”

From Golf Digest Apr. 21, 2020

From there, I was ushered into a small antechamber with a large door and a foreboding, old-school knocker.

From The Verge Dec. 5, 2018

An iron knocker hung on the front door, a squinting goblin with a ring in its mouth.

From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull

Elphick said the vandals had removed two door knockers from the statue which were a nod to the 1986 fantasy film Labyrinth which Jones had co-written.

From BBC May 20, 2026

With both campaigns now turning to get-out-the-vote efforts, Caruso has spent about $13 million mustering about 300 to 400 door knockers who have fanned out across the city to remind voters about the election.

From Los Angeles Times Nov. 4, 2022

But the door knockers didn’t explain where to vote or promote a candidate, the usual work of canvassers ahead of a big election.

From Reuters Nov. 3, 2022

As with replacing cabinet and drawer pulls in a kitchen, replacing door handles, hinges and knockers with new materials can give the front entry a freshened look.

From Seattle Times Jun. 9, 2022

One wall held doors, windows, knockers, and knobs that promised views into other places and times.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton

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