sitter

noun

sit·​ter ˈsi-tər How to pronounce sitter (audio)
1
: one that sits: such as
a
: a person who sits for a portrait or a bust
Usually commissioned by the sitters themselves, some images straddle the line between individual portrait and genre scene …Naomi Rosenblum
b
: a person who takes care of someone or something in the place of a parent, owner, etc.
pet sitters
The next time you hire a sitter [=babysitter], remind your daughter what happened the last time and let her know that you are only a phone call away.John Rosemond
see also house sitter
2
a
: an easy target
a sitter for enemy submarines
b
sports : an easy scoring or fielding chance
… missed an absolute sitter in the 44th minute to keep the game scoreless.Jamie Goldberg

Examples of sitter in a Sentence

They hired a sitter so they could go out. we'll be going to the movie if we can get a sitter for the kids
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Kenwood’s sitter has her hair in ringlets, while Philadelphia’s does not. Gareth Harris, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025 The sitter ended up with a surprise when Tilly gave birth one week earlier than expected to 14 puppies, not the expected six to eight. Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025 Photographing a whole host of famous faces, his sitters ranged from the Bright Young Things in the 1920s to artists and writers like Jean Cocteau and Andy Warhol, along with Hollywood starlets, cue Greta Garbo (famously his great muse), Marlene Dietrich, Elizabeth Taylor, and Marilyn Monroe. Felicity Carter, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025 According to Carbine, the sitter later admitted via text that friends had come over and were responsible for much of the damage. Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sitter

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sitter was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sitter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sitter. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

sitter

noun
sit·​ter ˈsit-ər How to pronounce sitter (audio)
: one that sits
especially : a person who babysits

Biographical Definition

Sitter

biographical name

Sit·​ter ˈsi-tər How to pronounce Sitter (audio)
Willem de 1872–1934 Dutch astronomer

More from Merriam-Webster on sitter

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