noun Uncommon

kicker

KIH-kuh

Kicker (noun) means a player, especially in American football, whose job is to kick the ball for field goals, extra points, or kickoffs. Example: “The kicker nailed the winning field goal as time expired.”

noun

A player, especially in American football, whose job is to kick the ball for field goals, extra points, or kickoffs.

"The kicker nailed the winning field goal as time expired."

An unexpected twist or detail, often surprising or ironic, that changes how you see a story.

"The kicker was that he'd known the truth all along."

"And here's the kicker — the whole thing was a misunderstanding."

How to use kicker

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a football player who kicks, or the surprising final detail in a story that gives it a punch.

Common pairings

team's kicker the kicker is... and here's the kicker

Word forms

kickers plural, kickers plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ nailed the winning field goal as time expired.

Etymology

From "kick" + "-er," originally meaning simply "one who kicks," later extended figuratively to anything that delivers a surprising jolt to a story.

Rhymes for kicker

wicker ticker bicker sicker Picker clicker snicker sticker flicker slicker trafficker

See all rhymes for kicker →

Frequently asked questions

What does “kicker” mean?

The word “kicker” means a player, especially in American football, whose job is to kick the ball for field goals, extra points, or kickoffs. In plain terms, either a football player who kicks, or the surprising final detail in a story that gives it a punch.

How do you pronounce “kicker”?

“Kicker” is pronounced KIH-kuh (/ˈkɪkɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “kicker” in a sentence?

Here is “kicker” used in a sentence: “The kicker nailed the winning field goal as time expired.”

What part of speech is “kicker”?

“Kicker” is a noun.

Is “kicker” a common word?

“Kicker” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “kicker” have?

“Kicker” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a player, especially in American football, whose job is to kick the ball for field goals, extra points, or kickoffs.

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Words that start with K