wrangler

American  

[rang-gler] / ˈræŋ glər /

noun

1. a cowboy, especially one in charge of saddle horses.

2. a person who wrangles or disputes.

3. (at Cambridge University, England) a person placed in the first class in the mathematics tripos.

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wrangler British  

/ ˈræŋɡlə /

noun

1. one who wrangles

2. a herder; cowboy

3. a person who handles or controls animals involved in the making of a film or television programme

   a snake wrangler

4. (at Cambridge University) a candidate who has obtained first-class honours in Part II of the mathematics tripos. The wrangler with the highest marks is called the senior wrangler

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Etymology

Origin of wrangler

1505–15; wrangle + -er ¹; wrangler ( def. 1 ) originally horse-wrangler, probably partial translation of Mexican Spanish caballerango groom, stable boy, with -erango suggesting wrangler

Example Sentences

Celebrity crocodile wrangler Matt Wright will spend five months in prison for tampering with evidence after a helicopter crash that killed his co-star and left the pilot a paraplegic.

From BBC • Dec. 12, 2025

For now, the reporters are relegated to lower press — where a wrangler admitted in writing that they cannot speak on the record for the administration.

From Salon • Nov. 7, 2025

Garcia appeared in the first movie as an animal wrangler; in the new film, he plays a chef.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2025

The Chicago noise wrangler Steve Albini’s signature recording technique was the invisible force that brought alternative rock’s most recognizable sounds to life.

From New York Times • May 8, 2024

Curly had holed up in the trailer for almost three hours, until the reptile wrangler pulled up to the gate.

From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen

Related Words

• breeder
• herder
• herdsman