sweeper

American  

[swee-per] / ˈswi pər /

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.

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sweeper British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of sweeper

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

Example Sentences

This was the dream scenario: baseball’s very best, edgy crowd, one-run game, two outs, a title on the line—and Ohtani getting the better of his pal on a filthy 3-2 sweeper.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Dodgers scrapped his slider, mixed in a sweeper, and told him his arm was so good that he should stop trying to make perfect pitches and just let fly.

From Los Angeles Times

As the camera follows a suburban Chicago street sweeper along its early morning route, it stops at a modest house, perched on the other side of the train tracks.

From Salon

Described as an “unimaginable Holy Grail piece,” the card Paul sold features beloved Pokémon mascot Pikachu holding a pen and feather sweeper.

From Los Angeles Times

"The numbers we put up, I don't think people would expect them," adds Bobby Lammie, who is credited alongside McMillan as having changed the physicality expected of sweepers.

From BBC

Related Words

• attendant
• custodian
• sitter
• superintendent