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 of putter

Verb

• potter (around)
• play
• goof (around)
• fiddle (around)
• monkey (around)
• fool around
• hang about

Examples of putter in a Sentence

Verb

the motorboat puttered across the lake

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Zoeller defeated Sneed and Tom Watson with a birdie on the second playoff hole, flinging his putter high in the air. —CBS News, 28 Nov. 2025

Zoeller won with a birdie on the second playoff hole, tossing his putter into the air in celebration. —Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2025

Verb

The sound of a dish rattling echoed from the kitchen, where Michelle was still puttering. —Alice Gregory, New Yorker, 16 Nov. 2025

With one on the transmission housing and one each for each front wheel, the Revuelto can putter about silently on battery power for a handful of miles, should the need arise — a first for a Lamborghini supercar. —Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 6 Nov. 2025

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"