sinker

American  

[sing-ker] / ˈsɪŋ kər /

noun

1. a person or thing that sinks.

2. a person employed in sinking, as one who sinks shafts.

3. a weight, as of lead, for sinking a fishing line or net below the surface of the water.

4. Slang. a doughnut or, sometimes, a biscuit or muffin.

5. Also called sinkerball.  Baseball. a fastball that curves downward sharply as it reaches the plate.

6. diesinker.

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sinker British  

/ ˈsɪŋkə /

noun

1. a weight attached to a fishing line, net, etc, to cause it to sink in water

2. a person who sinks shafts, etc

3. an informal word for doughnut

4. See hook

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sinker Idioms  

1. see hook, line, and sinker.

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Other Word Forms

• sinkerless
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of sinker

First recorded in 1520–30; 1870–75 in the sense “doughnut“; 1930–35 in the baseball sense; sink + -er ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sinker

He started integrating his sinker more consistently in late April, especially against left-handed hitters.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026

On his first at-bat in the third, Rushing drove a first-pitch sinker to right field for a double.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026

So, he then threw a belt-high sinker down the middle of the plate that Pete Alonso smashed into the right-field bleachers for a three-run homer.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 21, 2026

Opposing batters knew that almost everything Soriano threw would be down in the zone, whether it was a sinker, splitter or curveball.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 25, 2026

He barked and returned To my father, who Returned to the car: The fish would have Nothing of hook and sinker.

From "Neighborhood Odes" by Gary Soto

Related Words

• bun
• pastry