water cooler

noun

1. a container for holding drinking water that is cooled and drawn off by a faucet or spigot.
2. a drinking fountain in which water is cooled by mechanical refrigeration.

water cooler

noun

1. a device for cooling and dispensing drinking water

adjective

1. informal.
   1. indicating the kind of informal conversation among office staff that takes place at such a dispenser

      water-cooler conversations

   2. indicating an event, television programme, etc, sufficiently controversial or otherwise noteworthy to provide subject matter for such conversations

      water-cooler television

      a water-cooler moment

Word History and Origins

Origin of water cooler¹

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50

Example Sentences

Having these regular meetups in your calendar is a way to “simulate the water cooler moments where you just kind of bump into each other and you just have a conversation that’s not related to work,” Franco says.

From Time

It fostered conversations around office water coolers, over garden fences, and in supermarket aisles, as the Bunker household became a televised petri dish in which to observe and learn about the issues upending American society.

From Time

The in-person networking, deal inking and water cooler talk will be hard to recreate but not impossible, he said.

From Digiday

The typical water cooler moments that most have missed have been even more keenly felt by Laven.

From Digiday

So the discussions that used to happen over a water cooler don’t even happen over a water cooler anymore.

From Search Engine Land

If 2014 was any indication, the coming TV schedule is sure to be filled with plenty of water-cooler shows.

From The Daily Beast

A bottle of locally brewed liquor chills in a water cooler in the corner, a Pepsi bottle next to it for mixing.

From The Daily Beast

“My ideal is that this conversation happens at the water cooler,” Tambor says.

From The Daily Beast

All likely had some uncomfortable small talk to make at the water cooler when they got back.

From The Daily Beast

If all of it was true, Stratford Oakmont must have had some of the most awkward water-cooler talks in corporate history.

From The Daily Beast

He got up, lurching to the motion of the flying train, and started forward to the water cooler behind the car door.

From Project Gutenberg

He went to the water cooler, filled the glass with cold water and presented it to the young lady.

From Project Gutenberg

After a copious raid on the water-cooler, Theodora returned, feeling a little bloated, but much more composed and natural.

From Project Gutenberg

At his side lay the torso of the young reporter, his head mashed by the heavy water-cooler.

From Project Gutenberg

In getting a small boat see that it is a "water cooler," as an air-cooler will run a few minutes and stop, as the piston swells.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• faucet