tinker

1 of 2

verb

tin·​ker ˈtiŋ-kər 

tinkered; tinkering ˈtiŋ-k(ə-)riŋ 

intransitive verb

: to work in the manner of a tinker

especially : to repair, adjust, or work with something in an unskilled or experimental manner : fiddle

always tinkering with his car

transitive verb

: to repair, adjust, or experiment with

tinkerer

ˈtiŋ-kər-ər 

noun

tinker

2 of 2

noun

plural tinkers

1

a

: a usually itinerant mender of household utensils

b

: an unskillful mender : bungler

2

chiefly Ireland, sometimes offensive : romani sense 1

Synonyms of tinker

Verb

• play (with)
• toy (with)
• tamper (with)
• fool (with)
• fiddle (with)
• mess (with)
• monkey (with)

Examples of tinker in a Sentence

Verb

He was tinkering in the garage.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

These time shifts allowed the production crew and cinematographers to tinker with the show’s visual style, including using different equipment to film each time period. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 9 July 2026

That felt a natural next project for the director, who was already tinkering with the possibility of reuniting with Saad and the village. — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 8 July 2026

Noun

The Academy also made a bunch of other tinkers. — Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 1 May 2026

Miami Dolphins fans who thought the new regime might come in with a tinker and a tweak learned otherwise with a sudden jolt on Monday. — Miami Herald, 16 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English tinkere

First Known Use

Verb

1655, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing tinker

• give a tinker's damn
• tinker's dam
• tinker's damn
• worth a tinker's damn

Rhymes for tinker

• clinker
• drinker
• linker
• pinker
• sinker
• thinker
• freethinker

Video

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Kids Definition

tinker

1 of 2 noun

tin·​ker ˈtiŋ-kər 

: a person who travels around and earns a living by repairing household utensils (as pots and pans)

tinker

2 of 2 verb

tinkered; tinkering ˈtiŋ-k(ə-)riŋ 

: to repair or adjust something in an unskilled or experimental manner

tinkering with his car

tinkerer

-kər-ər 

noun