kicker

noun

kick·​er ˈki-kər 

1

: one that kicks or kicks something

2

: an unexpected and surprising remark, revelation, or set of circumstances

Examples of kicker in a Sentence

The real kicker came when the chairman announced that he was quitting.

Recent Examples on the Web

During his freshman year of high school, Butker’s tuba-playing partner, the varsity kicker, approached Butker, originally a soccer player, during symphonic band class about taking on the kicking duties for the football team the next year. — Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026

Always room for improvement … Rookie kicker Dominic Zvada went a perfect 10-for-10 in Wednesday’s practice. — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2026

The 49ers opened 2025 training camp with two kickers, Greg Joseph and Jake Moody. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 4 Aug. 2026

Rookie sixth round draft pick Trey Smack is the only kicker in camp after Green Bay cut Lenny Krieg last week. — Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for kicker

• bicker
• dicker
• flicker
• liquor
• picker
• quicker
• ricker
• sicker
• slicker
• snicker
• sticker
• thicker