hunter

noun

hunt·​er ˈhən-tər 

1

a

: a person who hunts game

b

: a dog used or trained for hunting

c

: a horse used or adapted for use in hunting with hounds

especially : a fast strong horse trained for cross-country work and jumping

2

: one that searches for something

3

: a pocket watch with a hinged protective cover

Synonyms of hunter

• archer
• huntsman
• falconer

Examples of hunter in a Sentence

hunters must have a license to shoot deer

Recent Examples on the Web

The hunters decided to try winching the carcass off the ground so that the meat could cool. — Rich Larocco, Outdoor Life, 2 Nov. 2026

Rattlesnakes are lazy hunters that wait in the shadows for prey to approach. — Rj MacKenzie, Popular Science, 1 Nov. 2026

Teghaza 001 was acquired through the desert meteorite trade, where hunters comb the Sahara for dark stones that stand out against the sand. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 30 Oct. 2026

The next morning, Karen went missing, but her car was found abandoned by two hunters on a rural roadside, as well as two smashed cell phones near a neighbor’s house, ABC News reported. — Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing hunter

• anti-hunter
• bounty hunter
• fortune hunter
• head-hunter
• hunter-gatherer
• hunter green
• white hunter

Rhymes for hunter

• bunter
• punter

Kids Definition

hunter

noun

hunt·​er ˈhənt-ər 

1

: a person who hunts

especially : one who hunts game

2

: a dog or horse used or trained for hunting

Geographical Definition

Hunter

geographical name

Hun·​ter ˈhən-tər 

river 287 miles (462 kilometers) long in eastern New South Wales, southeastern Australia, flowing east into the Pacific

Biographical Definition

Hunter

biographical name

Hun·​ter ˈhən-tər 

John 1728–1793 British anatomist and surgeon