plunger

noun

plung·​er ˈplən-jər 

: one that plunges: such as

a

: diver

b

: a reckless gambler or speculator

c(1)

: a sliding reciprocating piece driven by or against fluid pressure

especially : piston

(2)

: a piece with a motion like that of a ram or piston

d

: a rubber suction cup on a handle used to free plumbing traps and waste outlets of obstructions

Examples of plunger in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Once the tube is inside the uterus, the provider will push the IUD into the uterus with a plunger and remove the tube. —Carrie Madormo, Rn, Mph, Verywell Health, 2 Oct. 2024

Press down on the plunger to create a tight suction. —Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2024

Start plunging up and down (without pulling the plunger off the drain) to build water pressure. —Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2024

Housebound plungers deprived of access to movies, live sports and other forms of collective entertainment played at investing in meme stocks such as GameStop and dogecoins and other weird cryptocurrencies. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

plunger

noun

plung·​er ˈplən-jər 

: one that plunges: as

a

: a device (as a piston in a pump) that acts with a plunging motion

b

: a rubber suction cup on a handle used to free plumbing traps and waste outlets of something blocking them