pusher
noun
Simple meaning
A device that one pushes to transport a baby while on foot, such as a stroller or pram.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
puusherSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈpʊʃɚ
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
colloquial
An unlicensed dealer in illegal drugs
A device that one pushes in order to transport a baby while on foot, such as a stroller or pram (as opposed to a carrier such as a front or back pack).
A person employed to push passengers onto trains at busy times, so they can depart on schedule.
A device in a coke oven for levelling the coal, traditionally operated by a pusherman.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- C2 · Proficient (estimated)
- Frequency
- Rare
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: An unlicensed dealer in illegal drugs
Used this way, pusher is a reasonably familiar word with a faintly unfavourable edge. It turns up most in everyday conversation and social media or informal writing contexts.
- Emotional tone
- Slightly negative
- Formality
- Casual
- Intensity
- Moderate
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Critical or judgemental
- Usage feel
- Casual and conversational
Where it naturally appears
- Everyday conversation
- Social media/informal writing
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Similar Words, What’s the Difference?
Close in meaning, but not always interchangeable.
A drug dealer.
An unlicensed dealer in illegal drugs.
A person involved in the smuggling, distribution, and sale of illegal drugs.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
A clerk or bureaucrat who does paperwork.
Snug trousers ending at the calves.
A clerk who does boring paperwork.
A health professional trained in the art of preparing and dispensing drugs.
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What Does It Mean Here?
Words can change meaning depending on context.
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.