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

• bum
• beggar
• hobo
• tramp
• swagman [chiefly Australian]
• transient
• swaggie [chiefly Australian]
• vagabond
• vagrant

Examples of sundowner in a Sentence

sundowners showing up at a sheep station looking for work

Recent Examples on the Web

My days fell into a perfect rhythm: pre-dawn coffee before morning drives, lazy pool hours during the heat of midday, afternoon spa treatments with Joan for therapeutic massages, and evening drives that concluded with sundowners in extraordinary locations. —Jenn Rice, Travel + Leisure, 31 July 2025

Song and dance performances are laid on for guests at regular intervals: during our stay, one was set up around a campfire during a sundowner on the plain, and another took place in the dining area of the lodge. —Flora Stubbs, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2025

The late drive usually incorporates sundowners in the bush as the sun sets, a quintessential safari experience. —Heather Richardson, Travel + Leisure, 18 May 2025

One evening over sundowners, Kennedy’s stories started to flow. —Kathleen Rellihan, Outside Online, 8 June 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