dodger

noun

dodg·​er ˈdä-jər How to pronounce dodger (audio)
Synonyms of dodgernext
1
: one that dodges
especially : one who uses tricky devices
2
: a small leaflet : circular
3
4
: a usually canvas screen on a boat or ship that provides protection from spray

Examples of dodger in a Sentence

one of the most artful dodgers in the annals of American crime
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Ukraine faces severe personnel shortages with around 200,000 military desertions and 2 million draft-dodgers, threatening its ability to sustain the war against Russia’s 2022 invasion. Kirsten Grieshaber, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026 Almost all other passengers dine at the Britannia Restaurant, and there’s also a buffet restaurant serving international cuisine, with options for vegans, vegetarians and dairy dodgers. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Jan. 2026 But my collection intentionally ignored the fraudulent exploits of billionaire heirs, tax dodgers and corporate magnates — defense contracts, government lobbying, bank accounts in Switzerland, shell companies in Panama, citizenship of Antigua and political asylum in London. Snigdha Poonam, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025 Prosecutors painted a portrait of him as an artful tax dodger who devised one scheme after another to avoid paying his income taxes. Jay Weaver july 24, Miami Herald, 24 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1568, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dodger was in 1568

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Cite this Entry

“Dodger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dodger. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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