dormer

noun

dor·​mer ˈdȯr-mər How to pronounce dormer (audio)
: a window set vertically in a structure projecting through a sloping roof
also : the roofed structure containing such a window
dormered
ˈdȯr-mərd How to pronounce dormer (audio)
adjective

Illustration of dormer

Illustration of dormer

Examples of dormer in a Sentence

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.
Oftentimes, skylights will get damaged or dormers where there's any type of seam in the roof. — Paul Burton, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026 Turrets rise from the silhouette, while the roofline lifts and unfurls through steep gables and rounded dormers. — Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2026 The decorative sunburst windows on the two dormers and the gable window are our favorite details. — Emma Ashe, Southern Living, 24 June 2026 Old Bay, which originated in Maryland, is made of a whopping 18 spices; the pink home has dormers lining the underside of the roof. — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dormer

Word History

Etymology

Middle French dormeor dormitory, from Latin dormitorium

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dormer was in 1592

Phrases Containing dormer

Rhymes for dormer

See All Rhymes for dormer

Browse Nearby Words

dormant window
dormer
dormered
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

dormer

noun
dor·​mer ˈdȯr-mər How to pronounce dormer (audio)
: a window placed upright in a sloping roof
also : the structure containing a dormer window

More from Merriam-Webster on dormer

Nglish: Translation of dormer for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dormer

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