noun
clanker
Clanker (noun) means a thing that produces a clanking sound.
noun
1
A thing that produces a clanking sound.
2
(informal) A robot or an artificial intelligence.
3
Someone who makes use of automated systems or generative artificial intelligence.
"Education is getting overtaken by clankers."
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Etymology
Built from clank plus the agent suffix -er, an onomatopoeic formation. The sense "robot" turns up in science fiction as early as 1958, and its wider popular use grew on social media from around 2024 onward, driven by the AI boom. That surge owed a lot to the word's use in the Star Wars franchise, especially the 2005 video game Star Wars: Republic Commando, where it was applied to the B1-series battle droids — humanoid robots built purely for fighting in armed conflicts. They picked up the nickname "clanker" because, being cheaply mass-produced, they clanked whenever they moved.
Rhymes for clanker
See all rhymes for clanker →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of clanker?
"clanker" (noun) means a thing that produces a clanking sound.
What are the different meanings of clanker?
"clanker" has 3 main meanings: 1. A thing that produces a clanking sound; 2. (informal) A robot or an artificial intelligence; 3. Someone who makes use of automated systems or generative artificial intelligence.
