# pusher

/ˈpʊʃɝ/ (US) · /pˈʊʃɐ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. a drug dealer

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Slang

someone who sells illegal drugs to others.

For teachers: a person who sells illegal drugs, particularly one who actively seeks out new customers.

- The police arrested a local pusher who was selling drugs near the park.
- Undercover officers spent months tracking the pusher before they had enough evidence to dismantle the entire distribution network.

### 2. a stroller or pram

noun · CEFR B2 · British English · Dialect

a small chair on wheels used for moving a baby around while you walk.

For teachers: a wheeled vehicle for transporting a baby or young child.

- She put the baby in the pusher and went for a walk in the garden.
- The new model of pusher is designed to be lightweight and foldable, making it ideal for parents who frequently use public transport.

### 3. someone who pushes

noun · CEFR B1

a person or thing that physically pushes something.

For teachers: an agent or mechanism that applies physical force to move an object forward.

- The crowd was so thick that the people at the back became pushers, forcing everyone forward.
- In some busy metropolitan subway systems, professional pushers are employed to ensure passengers are safely inside the carriages before the doors close.

### 4. aircraft type

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

an airplane that has its propeller at the back instead of the front.

For teachers: an aircraft configuration in which the propeller is mounted behind the engine or fuselage, pushing the plane forward.

- The early aviator experimented with a pusher design to give the pilot a better view.
- While most modern light aircraft use a tractor configuration, certain specialized drones utilize a pusher propeller to keep the camera's field of view clear.

### 5. defensive tennis player

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a tennis player who just hits the ball back safely and waits for the other person to make a mistake.

For teachers: a defensive player who avoids aggressive shots, instead focusing on returning the ball consistently to induce opponent errors.

- He is a frustrating pusher who never hits a winner but never misses the court.
- The young prodigy struggled against the veteran pusher, finding it difficult to generate pace against such soft and consistent returns.

## Examples

- The police arrested a pusher near the train station.
- The neighborhood became a target for a local pusher who was trying to expand his territory.
- While the pusher is often the visible face of the drug trade, the network of suppliers and money launderers remains hidden from public view.

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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.