barfly

noun

bar·​fly ˈbär-ˌflī How to pronounce barfly (audio)
Synonyms of barflynext
: a person who spends much time in bars

Examples of barfly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Norm was America’s favorite barfly, and as the theme song said, everybody knew his name. — Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 23 May 2025 Hawke renders Hart as the most erudite barfly to buzz around mid-century Manhattan. — Kyle McGovern, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025 McLean was last seen on screen as a barfly in a season 7 episode of Netflix's Virgin River. — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 27 May 2026 This is different from the pastime counterfactuals enjoyed after the fact by barfly drunks and social media idiots. — Kyle Wagner, New York Daily News, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for barfly

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of barfly was in 1896

Browse Nearby Words

barfish
barfly
bar form
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Barfly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barfly. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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