beachcomber

noun

beach·​comb·​er ˈbēch-ˌkō-mər 

plural beachcombers

1

: a person who searches along a shore (as for seashells, driftwood, or salable refuse)

2

dated : a non-Indigenous person (such as a European castaway or convict) living as a drifter or loafer especially on the islands of the South Pacific (such as Micronesia)

beachcomb

ˈbēch-ˌkōm 

intransitive verb

beachcombed; beachcombing; beachcombs

Beachcombing for antique blue glass beads …

—Karl Luntta

My mother loved to beachcomb after high tide on stormy days …

—Motor Boating & Sailing

Examples of beachcomber in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The unspoiled beaches are a definite draw for beachcombers, shell collectors and sandcastle builders. —Noreen Kompanik, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025

For beachcombers, there are dozens of ocean and bay beaches that don’t require a parking permit once summer is in the rearview mirror. —Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 9 Oct. 2025

White Handled Ceramic Vase With sculptural handles and matte finish, this White Handled Ceramic Vase feels like a beachcomber’s pottery find. —Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 July 2025

My favorite activity was riding beachcomber bikes across the sprawling property dotted with palm trees and pools. —Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for beachcomber

• misnomer
• sarcoma
• angiosarcoma
• osteosarcoma
• chondrosarcoma
• enantiomer
• fibrosarcoma
• lymphosarcoma
• comber
• gomer
• omer
• vomer

Kids Definition

beachcomber

noun

beach·​comb·​er ˈbēch-ˌkō-mər 

1

: a drifter or loafer especially on a South Pacific island

2

: a person who searches along a beach (as for seashells or items to sell)