floater

noun

float·​er ˈflō-tər How to pronounce floater (audio)
1
a
: one that floats
b
: a person who floats something
2
: a person who votes illegally in various polling places
3
a
: a person without a permanent residence or regular employment
b
: a worker who moves from job to job
especially : one without fixed duties
4
: a pitched, thrown, or hit ball that moves through the air relatively slowly with little or no spin or rotation
5
: a policy insuring specific items of personal property (such as jewelry or art)
6
: a bit of optical debris (such as a dead cell or cell fragment) in the vitreous humor or lens that may be perceived as a spot before the eye
also : a spot in the visual field due to such debris
usually used in plural
7

Examples of floater 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.
Following a Napheesa Collier walk-in floater, Smith propelled her team to an early 7-2 lead after collecting a sharp entry pass and spinning into a floater on the block. Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025 The Knicks even had a 58.3% win probability with 35.2 seconds left in overtime after a Brunson floater put them up 135-134. Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025 Isaiah Hartenstein was given floater range opportunities repeatedly in the first three quarters and made six of them before riding out the fourth quarter on the bench. Anthony Slater, New York Times, 21 May 2025 Her final two buckets came via a floater in the lane and a 3-pointer. Mike Cook, Twin Cities, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for floater

Word History

First Known Use

1717, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of floater was in 1717

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Floater.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/floater. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

Medical Definition

floater

noun
float·​er ˈflōt-ər How to pronounce floater (audio)
: a bit of optical debris (as a dead cell or cell fragment) in the vitreous body or lens that may be perceived as a spot before the eye
also : a spot in the visual field due to such debris
usually used in plural
compare muscae volitantes

Legal Definition

floater

noun
float·​er
1
[from the notion that the policy “floats” with the goods it insures, wherever they might be located] : a policy or supplemental attachment to a policy insuring specific items of personal property (as jewelry or art)
specifically : a policy of insurance to protect against loss or damage of goods in transit or goods (as jewels) naturally subject to use in various places

called also floating policy

2
: a debt security that yields an indexed variable rate of interest
especially : floating rate note at note

More from Merriam-Webster on floater

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