putter

1 of 3

noun (1)

put·​ter ˈpu̇-tər 

: one that puts

a putter of questions

putter

2 of 3

noun (2)

putt·​er ˈpə-tər 

1

: a golf club used in putting

2

: one who putts

putter

3 of 3

verb

put·​ter ˈpə-tər 

puttered; puttering; putters

intransitive verb

1

: to move or act aimlessly or idly

2

: to work at random : tinker

putterer

ˈpə-tər-ər 

noun

Synonyms

Verb

• doodle
• fiddle (around)
• fool around
• fribble
• goof (around)
• hang about [British]
• kick around
• mess around
• monkey (around)
• play
• potter (around)
• trifle

Examples of putter in a Sentence

Verb

the motorboat puttered across the lake

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Immediate emotion fell over McIlroy, tossing his putter and hat in the air and letting out a huge scream just before falling to his knees as the crowd on hand cheered him on. —Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2025

One of the best putters on the PGA Tour, McCarthy finished in a tie for 45th in his first appearance at August National in 2024. —Bennett Conlin, Baltimore Sun, 7 Apr. 2025

Verb

The Best Presidents' Day HP Desktop Deals Low-cost desktops are definitely HP's stock in trade, and the Envy series can be found in homes and offices across the world, puttering away and delivering reliable performance at nice prices. —K. Thor Jensen, PCMAG, 17 Feb. 2025

The little red Volkswagen puttered northbound along 16th Avenue South. —Keith Sharon, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

alteration of potter

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1743, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1827, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing putter

• putter around

Rhymes for putter

• butter
• clutter
• cutter
• flutter
• gutter
• mutter
• nutter
• rutter
• shutter
• sputter
• stutter
• utter

Kids Definition

putter

1 of 3 noun

put·​ter ˈpu̇t-ər 

: one that puts

putter

2 of 3 noun

putt·​er ˈpət-ər 

1

: a golf club used in putting

2

: a person who putts

putter

3 of 3 verb

put·​ter ˈpət-ər 

1

: to move or act without obvious purpose

2

: to work by chance or without skill

putterer

-ər-ər 

noun

Etymology

Noun

from put and -er (noun suffix)

Noun

from putt and -er (noun suffix)

Verb

an altered form of earlier potter "to move about idly without aim or purpose"