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

Ironically, because from his two-time All-American career at Furman University (1982-83) through eight victories on the PGA Tour, the last in 2005, Faxon built a reputation as one of the all-time great putters. —Bob Gillespie, Charlotte Observer, 11 July 2024

His senior shot putter had surgery and was out for the season. —Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2024

Meanwhile, the country's democracy putters along, but in the absence of leadership, policymaking has ground to a halt. —Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Foreign Affairs, 18 June 2012

Morikawa’s putter went cold on the final day at the PGA, when Schauffele won his first major. —Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 21 June 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

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"