sweeper
Americannoun
-
a person or thing that sweeps.
-
a janitor.
-
any of several fishes of the family Pempherididae, of tropical and warm, temperate seas, having an oblong, compressed body.
noun
-
a person employed to sweep, such as a roadsweeper
-
any device for sweeping
a carpet sweeper
-
informal soccer a player who supports the main defenders, as by intercepting loose balls, etc
Etymology
Origin of sweeper
late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at sweep 1, -er 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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 • Mar. 5, 2026
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 • Feb. 28, 2026
The driver of the road sweeper, whose vehicle fell down the sinkhole, was unharmed.
From BBC • Feb. 3, 2026
He snapped off his trademark sweeper to fan Matt Chapman and retire the side.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 19, 2025
The city council was discussing the purchase of a mechanical sweeper.
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
