hunter

noun

hunt·​er ˈhən-tər 

1

a

: a person who hunts game

b

: a dog used or trained for hunting

c

: a horse used or adapted for use in hunting with hounds

especially : a fast strong horse trained for cross-country work and jumping

2

: one that searches for something

3

: a pocket watch with a hinged protective cover

Synonyms of hunter

• archer
• huntsman
• falconer

Examples of hunter in a Sentence

hunters must have a license to shoot deer

Recent Examples on the Web

Owls are opportunistic hunters that sometimes eat insects or feed them to owlets. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2026

Snake hunter Mike Kimmel, who has hands-on experience attempting to capture them, described the challenge in vivid terms. —Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 13 Mar. 2026

Snake hunter Mike Kimmel, who has hands-on experience dealing with these animals, described the challenge bluntly. —Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 13 Mar. 2026

Snake hunter Mike Kimmel, who has firsthand experience wrangling them, put it bluntly. —Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing hunter

• anti-hunter
• bounty hunter
• fortune hunter
• head-hunter
• hunter-gatherer
• hunter green
• white hunter

Rhymes for hunter

• bunter
• punter

Kids Definition

hunter

noun

hunt·​er ˈhənt-ər 

1

: a person who hunts

especially : one who hunts game

2

: a dog or horse used or trained for hunting

Geographical Definition

Hunter

geographical name

Hun·​ter ˈhən-tər 

river 287 miles (462 kilometers) long in eastern New South Wales, southeastern Australia, flowing east into the Pacific

Biographical Definition

Hunter

biographical name

Hun·​ter ˈhən-tər 

John 1728–1793 British anatomist and surgeon