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

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."

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 notes

In 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.

Word forms

gomers plural, gomers plural, gomers plural, Gomers plural

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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.

Origin: French

Rhymes for gomer

omer comer homer boomer goomer bloomer newcomer customer astronomer

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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.