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

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Etymology

Origin of sinker

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sinker

Unlike many of his bullpen counterparts, who rely on no more than two pitches, Ashby has four, highlighted by his 97 mph sinker and devastating curveball.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2026

Then, two batters later, Freeman turned on an inside sinker and sent it over the right-field fence — where Dubón had no chance to track it down.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

Tuesday’s 399-foot solo shot off of Sale’s sinker pushed the lead to 3-0 — a margin that no team has yet overcome against Dodgers’ ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

Meanwhile, Schlittler’s sinker, which he throws 20% of the time, veers aggressively downward and toward righties.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

This one hangs out in the same crowd with hook, line, and sinker and lock, stock, and barrel. can of worms.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

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Related Words

• bun
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