1
: one that strikes: such as
a
: a player in any of several games who is striking or attempting to strike a ball
b
: the hammer of the striking mechanism of a clock or watch
c
: a blacksmith's helper who swings the sledgehammer
d
: a worker on strike
2
: a junior enlisted member of the U.S. Navy who has declared an occupational specialty
3
: a forward in soccer

Examples of striker in a Sentence

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.
Folarin Balogun, the striker whose 11th-hour reinstatement Sunday by FIFA unleashed an international furor and much anti-Yankee sentiment abroad, created a free kick with a fine hold-up play. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2026 And the best player on the field, as usual, was Norway’s 6-5 striker Erling Haaland. Miami Herald, 7 July 2026 The Red Devils have been clamoring about their golden generation for over a decade, but its greatest talents – winger Jeremy Doku, lethal striker Romelu Lukaku and 35-year-old playmaking metronome Kevin De Bruyne – all started on the bench. Julian Cardillo, Boston Herald, 7 July 2026 This World Cup has made unlikely international stars out of a plucky Cape Verde squad, further catapulted the status of gargantuan Norwegian striker Erling Haaland and firmly planted Lionel Messi as the greatest player of his generation. Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for striker

Word History

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of striker was in 1581

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Striker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/striker. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

: a worker on strike

More from Merriam-Webster on striker

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!