# buster

/ˈbəstɝ/ (US) · /bˈʌstɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/buster
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a destroyer or breaker

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

someone or something that breaks, stops, or destroys a specific thing.

For teachers: an agent or instrument that bursts, breaks, or overcomes a specified target; frequently used in compound nouns.

- The city hired a professional ghost buster to investigate the old library.
- The new legislation was marketed as a trust-buster, designed to dismantle the monopolies that had dominated the energy sector for decades.

Usage: Commonly appears as the second element in compound words like 'blockbuster' or 'myth-buster'.

### 2. term of address

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · American English

a way to address a man, often used when you are annoyed or being aggressive.

For teachers: a colloquial vocative used to address a male, typically carrying a confrontational, dismissive, or mock-authoritative tone.

- Listen here, buster, you can't park your car in front of my driveway.
- The shopkeeper pointed a finger at the rowdy teenager and told him to move along, buster, before he called the authorities.

Teaching tip: This term is often perceived as dated or cinematic; using it in real life can sound like a parody of a tough guy from an old movie.

### 3. a strong wind

noun · CEFR C2 · Dialect · British English

a very strong, cold wind that arrives suddenly.

For teachers: a sudden, violent windstorm or gale, particularly one characterized by a sharp drop in temperature.

- We had to head back to the harbour when the southerly buster hit the coast.
- The sudden arrival of a southerly buster sent pedestrians scurrying for cover as the temperature plummeted ten degrees in minutes.

Usage: Most commonly used in the phrase 'southerly buster' in Australian and New Zealand English.

## Examples

- The sudden rain was the buster of our picnic.
- The unexpected budget cut was the buster of the company's expansion plans.
- In the context of the Cold War, the economic stagnation of the 1970s served as the ultimate buster of Soviet ideological confidence.

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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.