dumpster

noun

dump·​ster ˈdəm(p)-stər 

variants or less commonly Dumpster

: a large trash receptacle

Examples of dumpster in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Law enforcement knocked on residents' doors the night before, asking questions about the dumpster, according to people who live on the block. — Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026

The group is also calling for dumpsters at all apartment buildings and businesses, as well as more reliable bulky-item pickup. — Hanna Kang, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026

When some youngsters in Rome tried to set a dumpster on fire, others quickly extinguished the blaze, keen to avoid the type of violence that has marred similar protests in France. — Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026

Ace Hardware didn’t have dumpsters on the site, and the new enclosure will be built on the north side of the property. — Rick West, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

dump entry 1 + -ster (originally in the trademarked name Dempster Dumpster, applied to mechanically loaded refuse containers produced by the Dempster Brothers Company of Knoxville, Tennessee)

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing dumpster

• dumpster diving
• dumpster fire