noun
gomer
Gomer (noun) means a clumsy, foolish, or hopelessly inept person, especially a trainee or new recruit. Example: “The new recruit was a total gomer on his first day of drills.”
noun
1
A clumsy, foolish, or hopelessly inept person, especially a trainee or new recruit.
"The new recruit was a total gomer on his first day of drills."
"Nobody wanted the gomer on their team during the exercise."
2
In hospital slang, a patient seen as difficult, unpleasant, or unlikely to improve.
"The night-shift nurses joked darkly about another gomer coming through the ER."
How to use gomer
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMilitary and hospital slang for someone useless, clueless, or a burden.
When to use it
Very informal and often dismissive or mocking; avoid in professional writing.
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Word forms
- Plural
- gomers
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The new recruit was a total _____ on his first day of drills.
Etymology
Origin debated; possibly linked to the artillery term "gomer" (a chamber shape in old cannons, named after French officer Louis-Gabriel de Gomer) or to the bumbling TV character Gomer Pyle.
Rhymes for gomer
See all rhymes for gomer →Frequently asked questions
What does “gomer” mean?
The word “gomer” means a clumsy, foolish, or hopelessly inept person, especially a trainee or new recruit. In plain terms, military and hospital slang for someone useless, clueless, or a burden.
How do you use “gomer” in a sentence?
Here is “gomer” used in a sentence: “The new recruit was a total gomer on his first day of drills.”
What part of speech is “gomer”?
“Gomer” is a noun.
Where does the word “gomer” come from?
The word “gomer” comes from French. Origin debated; possibly linked to the artillery term "gomer" (a chamber shape in old cannons, named after French officer Louis-Gabriel de Gomer) or to the bumbling TV character Gomer Pyle.
How many meanings does “gomer” have?
“Gomer” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a clumsy, foolish, or hopelessly inept person, especially a trainee or new recruit.
