putter

1 of 3

noun (1)

put·​ter ˈpu̇-tər 

: one that puts

a putter of questions

putter

2 of 3

noun (2)

putt·​er ˈpə-tər 

1

: a golf club used in putting

2

: one who putts

putter

3 of 3

verb

put·​ter ˈpə-tər 

puttered; puttering; putters

intransitive verb

1

: to move or act aimlessly or idly

2

: to work at random : tinker

putterer

ˈpə-tər-ər 

noun

Synonyms of putter

Verb

• potter (around)
• play
• goof (around)
• fiddle (around)
• monkey (around)
• fool around
• hang about

Examples of putter in a Sentence

Verb

the motorboat puttered across the lake

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Despite the clean scorecards, Korda had a stretch when her putter momentarily went cold. —Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026

Jailbird’s been this iconic putter for us. —Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 14 Apr. 2026

Verb

Growing up in State College, Pennsylvania, Yang spent countless hours playing catch and puttering in the garden with his grandfather, a chemical engineer and the family patriarch. —Caleb Hellerman, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026

Environmentalists are now raising alarm bells that the program is puttering out, which not only slows down progress with smog but also keeps the country more dependent on volatile energy imports at a time of growing geopolitical risk. —ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

alteration of potter

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1743, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1827, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing putter

• putter around

Rhymes for putter

• butter
• clutter
• cutter
• flutter
• gutter
• mutter
• nutter
• rutter
• shutter
• sputter
• stutter
• utter

Kids Definition

putter

1 of 3 noun

put·​ter ˈpu̇t-ər 

: one that puts

putter

2 of 3 noun

putt·​er ˈpət-ər 

1

: a golf club used in putting

2

: a person who putts

putter

3 of 3 verb

put·​ter ˈpət-ər 

1

: to move or act without obvious purpose

2

: to work by chance or without skill

putterer

-ər-ər 

noun

Etymology

Noun

from put and -er (noun suffix)

Noun

from putt and -er (noun suffix)

Verb

an altered form of earlier potter "to move about idly without aim or purpose"