trimmer

noun

trim·​mer ˈtri-mər 

1

a(1)

: one that trims articles

(2)

: one that stows coal or freight on a ship so as to distribute the weight properly

b

: an instrument or machine with which trimming is done

c

: a circuit element (such as a capacitor) used to tune a circuit to a desired frequency

2

: a beam that receives the end of a header in floor framing

3

: a person who modifies a policy, position, or opinion especially out of expediency

Synonyms

• chameleon

Examples of trimmer in a Sentence

gradually fading in the primaries, the former front-runner watched helplessly as the trimmers rushed to embrace the party's newest rising star

last year's winner of the tournament unexpectedly got trimmed in the first round, and the trimmer was a young player that no one had ever heard of

Recent Examples on the Web

If you weren’t provided a brush, something similar, such as the one included with an electric shaver or hair trimmer, or even a toothbrush, should work fine. —Christopher Null, Wired News, 22 June 2025

Even in the plan’s trimmer version, the state’s contribution would have helped expand the north wall along Fifth Street to improve the northeast entrance security area, increase disability access, update restroom plumbing and reduce pedestrian congestion. —Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 12 June 2025

Read Next National Tree trimmer mistaken for intruder shot dead outside home, Arizona police say May 21, 2025 7:50 AM This story was originally published May 21, 2025 at 9:52 AM. —Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 21 May 2025

This trimmer is the lightest in RYOBI's trimmer line. —Nora Colomer, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing trimmer

• string trimmer

Rhymes for trimmer

• brimmer
• dimmer
• glimmer
• grimmer
• nimmer
• rimmer
• shimmer
• simmer
• skimmer
• slimmer
• swimmer
• timmer