plunger
Americannoun
-
Machinery. a pistonlike reciprocating part moving within the cylinder of a pump or hydraulic device.
-
Automotive. a pistonlike part in the valve of a pneumatic tire.
-
Also called plumber's helper. Also called plumber's friend,. Also called 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.
-
a person or thing that plunges.
-
a reckless bettor or speculator.
noun
-
a rubber suction cup fixed to the end of a rod, used to clear blocked drains
-
a device or part of a machine that has a plunging or thrusting motion; piston
-
informal a reckless gambler
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.
You can’t just burn you house down and walk away, so you grab a plunger.
From Slate • Apr. 7, 2025
After breaking the Dalek, the Doctor hands a plunger from his Tardis which marks the "origins of the iconic Dalek arm", the Doctor Who official Twitter page said.
From BBC • Nov. 17, 2023
At the speed dating event, she was partnered with Tommy Ashman, 25, an entrepreneur and first-time plunger, and described the ice bath as a bonding experience.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 11, 2023
His wife and son didn’t know CPR, so in desperation they grabbed a toilet plunger to get his heart going until an ambulance showed up.
From New York Times • Jun. 15, 2023
She sticks a funny plunger into the end of the horn.
From "Muffled" by Jennifer Gennari
![]()
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.