Van der Merwe

British

/ væn də ˈmɜːvə /

noun

a stereotypical figure humorously representing Boer stupidity and prejudice

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Van der Merwe

C20: from a common Afrikaner surname

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.

Toulouse star Kinghorn will start at full-back in place of Tom Jordan, who drops to the bench, while Van der Merwe, Scotland's record try-scorer, returns on the wing following an injury to Jamie Dobie.

From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026

There is a feeling that England would have loved it had Van der Merwe been selected so that George Ford and Alex Mitchell could pepper him with contestables.

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026

Van der Merwe and Kinghorn fail to even make the bench with Graham, Adam Hastings and George Horne the replacement backs.

From Barron's • Feb. 5, 2026

Commenting on this, Mr Van der Merwe told the commission: "I really did not have a chance to agree. I felt like I was being forced."

From BBC • Dec. 23, 2025

Van der Merwe was a quiet, levelheaded man who spoke only when he had something important to say.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023