Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus
1

whistle-stop

noun, often attributive whis·tle-stop \ ˈhwi-səl-ˌstäp , ˈwi- \

Definition of whistle-stop

1 a : a small station at which trains stop only on signal : flag stop
b : a small community
2 : a brief personal appearance especially by a political candidate usually on the rear platform of a train during the course of a tour

First Known Use of whistle-stop

circa 1925

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

whistle-stop Synonyms

Synonyms

hamlet, vill, village;

Related Words

cow town, Podunk;

outpost;

2

whistle-stop

verb

Definition of whistle-stop

whistle-stopped; whistle-stopping; whistle-stops
intransitive verb
: to make a tour especially in a political campaign with many brief personal appearances in small communities

First Known Use of whistle-stop

1952

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

Learn More about whistle-stop

  1. See words that rhyme with whistle-stop Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for whistle-stop

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up whistle-stop? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

WORD OF THE DAY

declivity

play

a downward inclination or slope

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. socialism 'a way of organizing a society in which major industries are owned and controlled by the government'

  2. uphold 'to let stand'

  3. due process 'a course of formal proceedings (as judicial proceedings)'

  4. asylum 'protection from arrest and extradition given especially to political refugees'

  5. insubordinate 'disobedient to authority'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

whistle-stop

Test Your Vocabulary

Obscure Shapes

  • a-pile-of-three-dimensional-shapes-in-green
  • Something that is ooid is shaped like:
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games