plunger
Americannoun
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plungers
plural
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Machinery. a pistonlike reciprocating part moving within the cylinder of a pump or hydraulic device.
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Automotive. a pistonlike part in the valve of a pneumatic tire.
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Also called plumber's helper, plumber's friend, force cup. a device consisting of a handle with a rubber suction cup at one end, used as a force pump to free clogged drains and toilet traps.
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a person or thing that plunges.
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a reckless bettor or speculator.
noun
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a rubber suction cup fixed to the end of a rod, used to clear blocked drains
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a device or part of a machine that has a plunging or thrusting motion; piston
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informal a reckless gambler
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of plunger
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:
Lih said inspiration for his design came from a sink plunger from Home Depot and suction devices in ambulances.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
In my mind, a fire extinguisher often gets put into the same “essentials” bucket as a plunger for your house: You should probably buy one before you need it.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 20, 2026
Because water resists compression, pulling the plunger creates increasing resistance.
From Science Daily ● May 13, 2026
The plunger of the syringe attached to the needle would be pulled back and, hopefully, urine quickly accumulated.
From Slate ● Jan. 29, 2025
He worked the plunger once and about a half a cup of water spurted out into the ocean.
From "The Voyage Of The Frog" by Gary Paulsen
We don’t know who was pushing the plungers.
From Slate ● Oct. 6, 2026
The other women on the beach are dedicated cold plungers; their WhatsApp group contains the words “polar” and “sunrise.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 7, 2025
Instead of leaving town as planned, Mr. Sherman grabbed a set of antique toilet plungers and headed downtown to Wall Street, to pass the hat as a sidewalk juggler and mime.
From New York Times ● Jul. 8, 2021
As in real casinos, the most consistent winner is the house, especially when it’s got small-time plungers on the floor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 1, 2021
“Excuse me, I got a shipment of plungers I need to unpack.”
From "The Last Last-Day-of-Summer" by Lamar Giles
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
