gamer en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- [ˈɡeɪ̯mə] (Received-Pronunciation)
- [ˈɡeːmɚ] ~ [ˈɡeːmɹ̩] monophthongization
- /ˈɡeːmɚ/ monophthongization
- /ˈɡæ̝ɪ̯mə/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
- [ˈɡæ̝ɪ̯mə] ~ [ˈɡæ̝ɪ̯mɐ̝] (Australia, New-Zealand)
- /ˈɡeɪ̯mə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- [ˈɡeɪ̯mɚ] ~ [ˈɡeɪ̯mɹ̩] (Canada, General-American)
- (US) audio
- /ˈɡeɪ̯mɚ/ (Canada, General-American)
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Germanic *gamaną Proto-West Germanic *gaman Old English gamen Middle English game Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzios Latin -āriusnom. Latin -āriusbor. Proto-Germanic *-ārijaz Proto-West Germanic *-ārī Old English -ere Middle English -ere Middle English gamer English gamer From Middle English gamer, attested since before 1450 as a common noun and possibly since 1248 in the name of one Johannes le Gamer. Equivalent to game (noun) + -er (occupational suffix).
Meanings
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A person who plays any kind of game.
These dice are the gamers' weapons […]
2002, Gary Alan Fine, Shared Fantasy: Role Playing Games as Social Worlds, page 93:[…] any dice-player, carder, tennis player, or other unlawful gamer.
1422, Code of Laws of Walsall
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(qualifier:by ellipsis) A person who plays any kind of game. ▸ A person whose hobby is video games.
These real-time elements feel fresh, holding engagement in the fight playing out on-screen, while also offering gamers an extra level of control over proceedings.
2025 February 14, Robert Jones, “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33”, in PC Gamer (US), number 392, page 32:That the Parliament congratulates the online gamer, Harry Brewis, who is known by the handle HBomberGuy, […]
2019, The Scottish Parliament, Motion S5M-15504 https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx?SearchType=Advance&ReferenceNumbers=S5M-15504&ResultsPerPage=10A country that's enriched the world with sushi, karaoke and manga, Japan has many devotees, especially among gamers and geeks.
2021 April 25, John Malathronas, “Which languages are easiest – and most difficult – for native English speakers to learn?”, in CNN, archived from the original on 22 Mar 2022:
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A person who games the system.
[…] the real "takers" in this country are commercial gamers of the system who are only in it to swipe a fast buck from the common trust.
2016, Eric Lovald, Hugely Confused:Near-synonym: gamesman
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(obsolete) A gambler.
The gamer is farther from restoration even than the drunkard, because what he does he does in the light of sobriety and reason.
1845 The Head Quarters, Volume III, Number 122 (November 19, 1845)
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| gamers | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
gamerscore · gamer word · gamer gunk · capital-G gamer · gamertag · nongamer · GamerGate · wargamer · board gamer · Gamergate · gamer neck · backseat gamer · non-gamer · pro-gamer · power gamer · gamer leg · retrogamer · heated gamer moment · netgamer · gaymer · gamer pants · gamery · back-seat gamer · video gamer
Descendants
gamer · გეიმერი · gamer · gamer · guêimer · ґе́ймер · ге́ймер · геймър · گيمر · قيمر · ゲーマー · Gamer · 게이머 · گیمر · gamer · gamer · gamer · ге́ймер · ге́јмер
Hypernyms
self-server · gameplayer · cheater · cheat
Relateds
Synonyms
gamesman · videogamer · gameplayer · gameplayer · punter
Translations (58)
de Gamer (person who plays video games) · mk ге́јмерка (person who plays video games) · hu gamer (person who plays video games) · ru ге́ймер (person who plays video games) · gl videoxogadora (person who plays video games) · ka გეიმერი (person who plays video games) · es videojugador (person who plays video games) · it videogiocatore (person who plays video games) · pl gamerka (person who plays video games) · cmn 玩家 (person who plays video games) · fr joueur (de jeu vidéo) (person who plays video games) · pt videojogador (person who plays video games) · es videojugadora (person who plays video games) · pl gracz (person who plays video games) · fi peluri (person who games the system) · afb گيمر (person who plays video games) · uk граве́ць (person who plays video games) · ka მოთამაშე (person who plays video games) · fa گیمر (person who plays video games) · pl gracz (person who games the system) · sv datorspelare (person who plays video games) · uk ігрома́н (person who plays video games) · ka ვიდეომოთამაშე (person who plays video games) · ru игрома́н (person who plays video games) · pl graczka (person who games the system) · hu videójátékos (person who plays video games) · nl speler (person who plays video games) · es jugona (person who plays video games) · fi pelaaja (person who plays video games) · sv gamer (person who plays video games) · pl graczka (person who plays video games) · pl gamer (person who plays video games) · de Spieler (person who plays video games) · it videogiocatrice (person who plays video games) · afb قيمر (person who plays video games) · ru игро́к (person who plays video games) · uk ге́ймер (person who plays video games) · pt jogador (person who plays video games) · gl videoxogador (person who plays video games) · da gamer (person who plays video games) · es jugón (person who plays video games) · ja ゲーマー (person who plays video games) · ca videojugador (person who plays video games) · ca videojugadora (person who plays video games) · pt gamer (person who plays video games) · de Spielerin (person who plays video games) · pt videojogadora (person who plays video games) · fi videopelaaja (person who plays video games) · uk ґе́ймер (person who plays video games) · mk ге́јмер (person who plays video games) · nl gamer (person who plays video games) · nl speelster (person who plays video games) · ko 게이머 (person who plays video games) · hu gémer (person who plays video games) · gl xogador de videoxogos (person who plays video games) · pt jogadora (person who plays video games) · bg геймър (person who plays video games) · et mängija (person who plays video games)