poacher

1 of 2

noun (1)

poach·​er ˈpō-chər 

1

: one that trespasses or steals

2

: one who kills or takes wild animals (such as game or fish) illegally

poacher

2 of 2

noun (2)

1

: a covered pan containing a plate with depressions or shallow cups in each of which an egg can be cooked over steam rising from boiling water in the bottom of the pan

2

: a baking dish in which food (such as fish) can be poached

Examples of poacher in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

As a poacher, though, Ronaldo could still be a threat. —Graham Ruthven, New York Times, 10 June 2026

Douglas-Hamilton escaped that scare but dealt with many others—sometimes getting charged by elephants, once getting trampled by a rhinoceros, and surviving plane crashes as well as getting shot at by poachers. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 June 2026

His job is basically to keep poachers away and to make sure that there are enough pheasants for a jolly shooting party (which, since Sir Clifford uses a wheelchair, seems an improbable entertainment at Wragby). —Louis Menand, New Yorker, 1 June 2026

Having a better sense of where endangered species are could also help in patrolling against poachers, people with the project said. —Evelyne Musambi, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

poach entry 2

Noun (2)

poach entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1574, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1861, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for poacher

• cloture