shrimper

noun

shrimp·​er ˈshrim-pər How to pronounce shrimper (audio)
especially Southern ˈsrim-
Synonyms of shrimpernext
1
: a shrimp fisherman
2
: a boat engaged in shrimping

Examples of shrimper 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.
Gulf Coast shrimpers have been pummeled in recent years by natural and man-made disasters, as well as rising fuel costs. — Emily Cochrane, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025 Gulfers—as shrimpers who ply the waters of the Gulf of Mexico are called—sometimes find golf balls mixed in with their Gulf of Mexican shrimp. — Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025 Southern shrimpers face multiple challenges, including rising costs and cheaper foreign imports. — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 24 Mar. 2025 In the 1980s, there were more than 6,000 licensed shrimpers working in Louisiana. — Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shrimper

Word History

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shrimper was in 1835

Rhymes for shrimper

See All Rhymes for shrimper

Browse Nearby Words

shrimp
shrimper
shrimpfish
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

shrimper

noun
shrimp·​er ˈshrimp-ər How to pronounce shrimper (audio)
1
: a shrimp fisherman
2
: a boat used in fishing for shrimps

More from Merriam-Webster on shrimper

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for shrimper

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