buffer

1 of 4

noun (1)

buff·​er ˈbə-fər 

plural buffers

1

: any of various devices or pieces of material for reducing shock or damage due to contact

2

: a means or device used as a cushion against the shock of fluctuations in business or financial activity

3

: something that serves as a protective barrier: such as

a

: buffer state

b

: a person who shields another especially from annoying routine matters

c

: mediator sense 1

4

: a substance capable in solution of neutralizing both acids and bases and thereby maintaining the original acidity or basicity of the solution

also : a solution containing such a substance

5

: a section of computer memory for temporarily storing information

especially : one that accepts information at one rate and delivers it at another

The streaming video feed continues to download into the buffer while the computer starts playing the movie.

buffered

ˈbə-fərd 

adjective

buffer

2 of 4

verb

buffered; buffering ˈbə-f(ə-)riŋ  ; buffers

transitive verb

1

: to lessen the shock of : cushion

2

: to treat (something, such as an acid solution) with a buffer

also : to prepare (aspirin) with an antacid

3

: to collect (data) in a buffer

buffer

3 of 4

noun (2)

plural buffers

: someone or something that buffs

especially : a machine that cleans and polishes

a floor buffer

buffer

4 of 4

noun (3)

plural buffers

British slang

: fellow, man

a jolly buffer

especially : an old man

And now that I'm an old crock and he's an old buffer, we have our daily skirmishes—he wants the window closed, I want it open.

—Fiona Cooper

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• mediator
• negotiator
• intermediary
• broker
• intermediate
• liaison
• ambassador
• peacemaker
• honest broker
• proxy
• middleman

Verb

• soften
• cushion

Examples of buffer in a Sentence

Noun (1)

it took a friend serving as a buffer between the feuding siblings to get them to speak to one another again

the excelsior acts as an additional buffer for the marble bust during shipping

Verb

The trees help buffer the house from the hot summer sun.

The wall buffers the noise of the traffic.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Goss at the time the public land was primarily to provide a buffer at either end of the runway. —Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2025

In March, immediate changes to a swathe of application forms caused confusion for applicants, leading to a lawsuit from attorneys, and USCIS being forced to change course and offer at least two weeks' buffer time for the changes to take effect. —Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 June 2025

Verb

As spotted by PCWorld through posts on Reddit and the Brave browser forum, several ad-blocker users have complained about longer video loading times and increased buffering on YouTube. —Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 19 June 2025

Short daytime rest helps buffer against full exhaustion. —Pooja Shah, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

buff, verb, to react like a soft body when struck

Noun (3)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1835, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1854, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1749, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing buffer

• buffer state
• buffer zone

Rhymes for buffer

• duffer
• kafir
• puffer
• rougher
• suffer
• tougher

Kids Definition

buffer

1 of 3 noun

buf·​fer

ˈbəf-ər

1

: a device or material for reducing shock resulting from contact

2

: something that serves as a protective barrier

3

: a substance that in solution can neutralize both acids and bases

4

: a temporary storage unit (as in a computer)

especially : one that accepts information at one rate and delivers it at another

buffer

2 of 3 verb

buffered; buffering

-(ə-)riŋ

1

: to lessen the shock of : cushion

2

: to treat (a solution) with a buffer

also : to prepare (aspirin) with an antacid

3

: to collect (as data) in a buffer

buffer

3 of 3 noun

buff·​er

ˈbəf-ər

: one that buffs

Medical Definition

buffer

1 of 2 noun

buff·​er ˈbəf-ər 

1

: a substance or mixture of substances (as bicarbonates and some proteins in biological fluids) that in solution tends to stabilize the hydrogen-ion concentration by neutralizing within limits both acids and bases

2

: buffer solution

buffer

2 of 2 transitive verb

: to treat (as a solution or its acidity) with a buffer

also : to prepare (aspirin) with an antacid