Definitions
01person who swims
A2 · Elementary Countable noun Sports
n. a person who swims, especially for exercise or in a race.
n. a person who swims, whether for recreation, fitness, or competitive sport.
“The lifeguard watched the young swimmer carefully as she moved toward the deep end.”
“Olympic swimmers often spend several hours in the pool each day to refine their technique and build endurance.”
Synonyms
02sperm
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Medicine Informal · Humorous
n. a casual or funny way to talk about sperm.
n. a colloquial reference to spermatozoa, typically used in the plural.
“The doctor checked his swimmers to see if he could have children.”
“The fertility specialist explained that the count and motility of the swimmers were within the normal range.”
Usage
Usually used in the plural form.
Teaching tip
This is a common euphemism in casual conversations about fertility, but it is not appropriate for formal medical reports.
Synonyms
03a type of dumpling
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Cooking British English · Dialect
n. a traditional boiled dumpling from the Norfolk area of England.
n. a traditional Norfolk dumpling made from bread dough and boiled.
“My grandmother always served beef stew with fluffy swimmers on top.”
“The local pub is famous for its traditional Norfolk swimmers, served alongside a rich vegetable broth.”
Teaching tip
This is a very specific regional term from East Anglia; most English speakers outside that area will not know this meaning.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English swimmere, equivalent to swim + -er. The dumplings are so called because they are often served in stew.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- A2 · Elementary
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/swimmer
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0