gaffer

noun

gaf·​fer ˈga-fər 

1

: an old man compare gammer

2

British

a

: foreman, overseer

b

: employer

3

: a head glassblower

4

: a lighting electrician on a movie or television set

Did you know?

Though movie and cinema buffs associate gaffer with Hollywood, the word actually pre-dates motion pictures by about 300 years. The first recorded use of gaffer dates from the 16th century, when it was used as a title of respect for an older gentleman. Later it was used as a generic noun for any elderly man, and then it picked up the sense "foreman" (still used in British English), perhaps because the foreman was the most experienced and, most likely, the oldest person in a work crew. Today gaffer is usually applied to the head lighting electrician on a movie set. The gaffer's assistant is called the best boy.

Examples of gaffer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

IndieWire spoke directly with intimacy coordinators about their work, since — just like boom ops and gaffers — much of their on-set work is meant to be invisible. —Emily Maskell, IndieWire, 3 Apr. 2026

The streaming era just doesn’t offer the steady flow of work many directors, cinematographers, writers, gaffers, sound mixers, and other workers have relied upon. —Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2026

If this does well, the caterer, the gaffer, the best boy and the dolly grip are going to see some extra dough. —Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 20 Jan. 2026

In the battle between McLaren and Red Bull for last year’s Formula One drivers’ title, a piece of gaffer tape was an unlikely flashpoint at the United States Grand Prix. —Luke Smith, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

phonetic reduction of godfather entry 1 (with initial vowel perhaps from grandfather entry 1)

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for gaffer

• kaffir
• staffer
• anaphor
• semaphore
• cartographer
• telegrapher

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