What does rower mean?
A rower is a person who propels a boat by pulling oars through the water, usually as part of a crew or as a competitor in the sport of rowing. The word is used in both British and American English and can refer to athletes in formal rowing shells, as well as to people who row smaller boats for recreation or transport. In an eight-person crew, for example, every rower has a defined position and works with teammates to create a smooth, powerful stroke. The term is also used for someone exercising on a rowing machine. Rower is an agent noun formed from row, and it is closely associated with teamwork, physical endurance, balance, and synchronization. It can describe anyone who rows, though it most often refers to a trained or competitive participant rather than an occasional passenger or spectator.
A person who rows a boat, especially as a member of a rowing crew or as a participant in the sport of rowing.
"The rower in the bow checked the boat's direction before the start."
In crew racing, a rower is distinguished from a coxswain, who steers the boat and coordinates the crew's strokes without rowing.
A person who uses a rowing machine for exercise.
"The instructor demonstrated the proper technique to the rower on the machine."
This is a common modern extension of the word in fitness and gym contexts.
The standard plural is rowers, used for individual participants in rowing or people exercising on rowing machines.
"The club welcomes rowers of all levels."
From the person at the oars to the strongest athlete in an eight-person boat, a rower makes teamwork visible through a single, synchronized stroke.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does rower come from?
Rower is an English agent noun formed in the 16th century from the verb row and the suffix -er, meaning a person who performs the action. The verb row comes from Old Norse rea, meaning a row or an oar, and is related to other Germanic words for oars and rowing. The word entered wider sporting use alongside the development of organized rowing, while the related English word oar has its own Old English ancestry.
Related word forms
How rower is actually used
In British and American English, rower commonly refers to a participant in the sport of rowing, whether in a crew boat, a scull, or a smaller craft. In a specific boat, the term may distinguish a rower from a coxswain or cox, who steers and calls instructions but does not row.