English Reference
noun

stoner

n.
US /ˈstoʊnɝ/ ston·er UK spelling stoners

  1. 01 C1 Advanced SlangInformal

    someone who uses cannabis (marijuana) very often, especially someone who seems slow or lazy because of it.

    a habitual user of cannabis. Often carries a pejorative connotation of lethargy or lack of ambition.

    Simple

    He was a bit of a stoner in college, spending most afternoons on the couch.

    In context

    The film's protagonist is a stereotypical stoner who inadvertently becomes involved in a high-stakes political conspiracy while looking for snacks.

    potheadburnout
  2. 02 C2 Proficiency Technical Cooking

    a machine or tool used to remove the stones or pits from fruit like cherries or olives.

    a mechanical device designed to remove the drupe or pit from fruit.

    Simple

    We bought a cherry stoner to make the pie-making process much faster.

    In context

    Industrial-grade stoners are essential for processing large quantities of olives before they are bottled for retail sale.

    pitter
  3. 03 C2 Proficiency Literary

    a person who throws stones at someone as a punishment.

    an individual who participates in the act of stoning, typically as a form of execution or punishment.

    Simple

    In the ancient story, the first stoner hesitated before throwing the rock.

    In context

    The historical account describes the crowd of stoners gathered at the city gates, awaiting the signal to begin the execution.

Linklater has always told stories about people tussling with big, abstract ideas, whether it’s the walk-and-talk ruminations of Jesse and Céline in the Before trilogy, or the stoner philosophy of Dazed and Confused.

The Guardian· 1 Sept 2026

From Middle English stoner, stonere, stonare, staner, equivalent to stone + -er (agent noun suffix) or -er (measurement suffix).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Middle English stoner
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated