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

In a 1-1 count, Phillips threw a sinker on the inside edge of the strike zone, and Taylor lifted it into the left-field stands for a go-ahead three-run homer.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026

And in a two-strike count, he stayed inside a sinker to launch his two-run blast to left-center field.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 7, 2026

Not wanting to overload Soriano, the Angels had him focus on his sinker and curveball, his two best pitches.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 25, 2026

These rulings have adopted Scalia’s historical account hook, line, and sinker.

From Slate ● Dec. 4, 2025

He fell for every gag, hook, line, and sinker, more than a Luke Simard or a Hugh Winkleman ever would.

From "Schooled" by Gordon Korman

Related Words

• bun
• pastry