trimmer

noun

trim·​mer ˈtri-mər 

1

a(1)

: one that trims articles

(2)

: one that stows coal or freight on a ship so as to distribute the weight properly

b

: an instrument or machine with which trimming is done

c

: a circuit element (such as a capacitor) used to tune a circuit to a desired frequency

2

: a beam that receives the end of a header in floor framing

3

: a person who modifies a policy, position, or opinion especially out of expediency

Synonyms

• chameleon

Examples of trimmer in a Sentence

gradually fading in the primaries, the former front-runner watched helplessly as the trimmers rushed to embrace the party's newest rising star

last year's winner of the tournament unexpectedly got trimmed in the first round, and the trimmer was a young player that no one had ever heard of

Recent Examples on the Web

Initial videos of the arrest have been countered with videos from the administration, which has said Barranco assaulted the officers with his weed trimmer. —Julia Ainsley, NBC news, 25 June 2025

Everyone has it, and there are plenty of options, including at-home laser hair removal devices, bikini trimmers, and more. —Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 25 June 2025

The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office has not responded to CNN’s questions about whether inmates are allowed to have access to electric hair trimmers and barber equipment. —Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 26 May 2025

If you weren’t provided a brush, something similar, such as the one included with an electric shaver or hair trimmer, or even a toothbrush, should work fine. —Christopher Null, Wired News, 22 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing trimmer

• string trimmer

Rhymes for trimmer

• brimmer
• dimmer
• glimmer
• grimmer
• nimmer
• rimmer
• shimmer
• simmer
• skimmer
• slimmer
• swimmer
• timmer