staffer

American  

[staf-er, stah-fer] / ˈstæf ər, ˈstɑ fər /

noun

1. a member of a staff of employees or coworkers.

2. Journalism. an editorial employee, especially a writer.

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staffer British  

/ ˈstɑːfə /

noun

1. informal a member of staff, esp, in journalism, of editorial staff

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Etymology

Origin of staffer

First recorded in 1680–90; staff ¹ + -er ¹

Example Sentences

“Oh my bad, I didn’t know Jeffries tweeted!” mocked Briahna Joy Gray, a former top Bernie Sanders campaign staffer, referring to Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the top House Democrat.

From Slate • Apr. 8, 2026

One staffer told ThinkProgress during Trump’s first term that “Harvey just really likes powerful people, and he really likes having friends who are powerful, and who better than the President of the United States?”

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

Two more team members -- a player and a support staffer -- claimed asylum before the team flew out of Sydney on Tuesday evening.

From Barron's • Mar. 14, 2026

Samantha Stevens, a Los Angeles political consultant and former legislative staffer, said she is worried the proposed changes are a shortsighted solution to address police abuses that will create another layer of bureaucracy.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

One came when he was in Miami, on the way back to Haiti, from a Zanmi Lasante staffer.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

Related Words

• blue-collar worker
• breadwinner