sundowner

noun

sun·​down·​er ˈsən-ˌdau̇-nər 

1

[from his habit of arriving at a place where he hopes to obtain food and lodging too late to do any work] Australia : hobo sense 2, vagrant sense 1a

2

chiefly British : a drink taken at sundown

Synonyms of sundowner

• bum
• beggar
• hobo
• tramp
• swagman
• transient
• swaggie
• vagabond
• vagrant

Examples of sundowner in a Sentence

sundowners showing up at a sheep station looking for work

Recent Examples on the Web

What really gives the property energy is the way that it’s become a fixture for the local community, with families walking dogs, roller-skating down the boardwalk, commissioning sandcastles to mark anniversaries, or settling onto the hotel’s grand lawns for sundowners with a soccer ball. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025

Outings are typically about three hours long, with a coffee or sundowner break in the middle. —Heather Richardson, Travel + Leisure, 8 Dec. 2025

Head to the snug rooftop terrace early for a sundowner. —Chris Schalkx, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Dec. 2025

Evenings ended with sundowners by the bonfire pit. —Chris Schalkx, Vogue, 30 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sundowner

• homeowner
• landowner
• shipowner
• donor
• kroner
• kronor
• loner
• owner
• stoner
• toner

Kids Definition

sundowner

noun

sun·​down·​er -ˌdau̇-nər 

Australian

: tramp entry 2 sense 1, hobo