sweeper

[swee-per]

noun

1. a person or thing that sweeps. sweeps. sweep.

2. carpet sweeper.

3. a janitor.

4. any of several fishes of the family Pempherididae, of tropical and warm, temperate seas, having an oblong, compressed body.

sweeper

/ ˈswiːpə /

noun

1. a person employed to sweep, such as a roadsweeper

2. any device for sweeping

   a carpet sweeper

3. informal,  soccer a player who supports the main defenders, as by intercepting loose balls, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of sweeper¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; sweep ¹, -er ¹

Example Sentences

After stranding runners on the corners in a shaky first, the left-hander locked in and made the Dodgers look silly with a barrage of sweepers and changeups that dipped below the zone.

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He snapped off his trademark sweeper to fan Matt Chapman and retire the side.

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His secondary stuff was electric, a mix of sliders and sweepers and curveballs and splitters that kept the Phillies off balance and able to make only benign contact.

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Local media has reported that a blanket was left at the scene with a message issuing a warning to rival gangs and apparently signed by a group called "La Barredora", meaning the sweeper.

Read more on BBC

Since then, the franchise has churned out top pitching prospect after top pitching prospect, many of whom throw devastating sweepers and change-ups.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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• custodian 
• sitter 
• superintendent