dumpster

noun

dump·​ster ˈdəm(p)-stər How to pronounce dumpster (audio)
variants or less commonly Dumpster
: a large trash receptacle

Examples of dumpster in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Here’s a list of the most memorable jumps from trash TV to the smoldering dumpster of 21st century politics. Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026 The trope of the hooker-in-the-dumpster is as old as TV itself. Callum McLennan, Variety, 23 Mar. 2026 Authorities said Campos' ankle monitor was found near his home in a dumpster. Jesse Sarles, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026 Detectives found a bloody trail inside the apartment leading all the way to the dumpster, according to the warrant. David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dumpster

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of dumpster was in 1937

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dumpster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dumpster. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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