What does harasser mean?
Harasser is a noun for a person who harasses another person, typically by repeatedly making unwanted contact, intimidating them, or otherwise causing persistent distress. The word is especially common in discussions of workplace bullying, sexual harassment, online abuse, and stalking, although it is not limited to those settings. Calling someone a harasser usually suggests a repeated pattern of behavior rather than an isolated incident, though particular legal and institutional definitions may vary. Outside those contexts, the term remains an everyday label and should be applied carefully because it makes a strong accusation about a person’s conduct. Understanding the distinction between the actor, a harasser, and the action, harassment, is useful in both precise writing and ordinary conversation.
nounA person who harasses another person, especially by repeatedly making unwanted contact, intimidating them, or causing them persistent distress.
- A person who subjects another to repeated unwanted attention, intimidation, or distress.
"The company took formal action after several employees reported that a persistent harasser was targeting a colleague."
"Security was called after an online harasser repeatedly threatened customers through social media."
"She recognized the pattern of behavior and reported her harasser to the police."
The regular plural of harasser is harassers.
"Several harassers were barred from the event after security reported a series of incidents."
A harasser is defined not by one unwanted approach but by persistence.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does harasser come from?
Harasser was formed in English by adding the agentive suffix -er to the verb harass. Harass entered English in the early 17th century from French harasser, meaning “to vex or torment,” ultimately from Old French harer. The remote origin of the Old French word is uncertain, so claims about a more specific source should be treated cautiously.
How harasser is actually used
The term is serious and accusatory, commonly describing a person whose unwanted or intimidating conduct continues beyond a single incident. In legal or institutional contexts, it may refer specifically to someone who violates a defined rule against harassment.