What does striker mean?
A striker is principally a person who strikes or hits something. In industrial contexts, it may denote a skilled worker who shapes or forges metal by hammering it. The word also has a major political meaning: a worker who takes part in a strike, refusing to work in protest, usually over wages, conditions, or a disagreement with an employer. In association football, a striker is an attacking player whose role is to finish attacks and score goals, though other players may also score. In cricket, the striker is the batter whose turn it is to face the ball. These senses share an association with forceful or purposeful action, but they are distinguished by context. “Striker” is common in British and American English, although the worker-on-strike sense is particularly frequent in British usage.
A person who strikes or hits something, especially a worker who forges or shapes material by hammering it.
"The striker hammered the metal into a flat sheet."
The occupational sense is now chiefly historical or specialized, although it remains familiar in phrases such as “a striker on the anvil.”
A worker who refuses to work, typically as part of a collective industrial protest.
"The strikers met the negotiating team to discuss their demands."
This sense is common in British English and is often used collectively to refer to striking workers.
An association football player whose main attacking role is to score goals.
"The club's leading striker scored twice in the second half."
The football sense is familiar in British and American English, although tactical systems have made it less strictly limited to forwards.
A cricket player who is batting and facing the ball.
"The striker defended until the last ball of the over."
This is the standard technical term in cricket and contrasts with “non-striker.”
Used for multiple workers on strike, multiple sports players, or multiple people whose work involves striking.
"The strikers voted to accept the revised agreement."
From a metalworker’s tool to a football goal-scorer, “striker” has followed the action of hitting from workshop floors to sports grounds.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of striker
The word “striker” was formed from the verb “strike” and the suffix “-er,” which identifies someone who performs an action. “Strike” comes from Old English “strican,” meaning to touch, hit, or make a mark with force. The occupational sense developed as a word for a worker who struck metal. The separate political sense is based on the older expression “to strike,” meaning to stop working in protest.
How striker is actually used
In British English, “striker” can also mean a worker on strike, though this sense is less common than in some other languages. In football commentary, it usually denotes an attacking player rather than every player capable of scoring goals. In cricket, “striker” names the batter currently facing the ball, whereas “non-striker” names the other batter.
Easily confused with striker
A striker is a person who strikes or who works in protest, whereas a strike is the act of refusing to work or the action of hitting something.
A striker is a noun naming a person or worker, while striking is an adjective describing something noticeable or forceful.