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
1
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."
2
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 notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- kickers
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
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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