# bumper

/ˈbəmpɝ/ (US) · /bˈʌmpɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bumper
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. car part

noun · CEFR B1

the bar at the front or back of a car that protects it if it hits something.

For teachers: a horizontal bar fixed to the front or back of a motor vehicle to reduce damage in a collision.

- He accidentally hit the wall and dented his front bumper.
- Modern bumpers are designed to deform upon impact, absorbing kinetic energy to protect the vehicle's structural integrity and its occupants.

### 2. TV/radio jingle

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a very short piece of music or a video used to separate a show from the commercials.

For teachers: a brief segment of music or video used in broadcasting to transition between a programme and a commercial break.

- The radio station played a quick bumper before the news started.
- The producer requested a five-second musical bumper to maintain the show's branding during the transition to the local advertising slot.

### 3. orchestral assistant

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

an extra musician in an orchestra who helps the main player during long or difficult parts.

For teachers: an additional musician, typically in the brass section, who assists the principal player by performing less demanding passages.

- The principal horn player used a bumper for the easier sections of the symphony.
- To preserve the principal's endurance for the final movement, the orchestra hired a bumper to cover the repetitive middle passages.

### 4. gamepad button

noun · CEFR B2

a button on the top edge of a video game controller.

For teachers: a shoulder button located on the top edge of a gamepad, typically operated with the index fingers.

- Press the right bumper to change your weapon in the game.
- The game's control scheme maps the sprint function to the left bumper, allowing for more fluid movement during combat.

### 6. unusually large

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

unusually large or successful, especially for a crop or a business year.

For teachers: exceptionally large, productive, or successful; frequently used in the collocation 'bumper crop'.

- The farmers are celebrating a bumper harvest after the perfect summer weather.
- The company reported bumper profits this quarter, exceeding even the most optimistic forecasts from industry analysts.

Usage: Almost always used as an attributive adjective before a noun.

## Examples

- He scratched his front bumper while parking the car.
- The car behind me tapped my rear bumper at the red light, but there was no visible damage.
- Modern automotive design often integrates the bumper into the bodywork using lightweight plastics that absorb energy more efficiently than traditional steel bars.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.