What does swimmer mean?
A swimmer is a person who swims, especially someone who swims regularly for sport, exercise, or recreation. The term is neutral and can refer to beginners as well as highly trained athletes, although it often suggests participation in swimming as an organized activity or competition. In news and sporting contexts, “swimmer” may identify a competitor in an individual race or relay team. Common expressions include “strong swimmer,” “competitive swimmer,” and “swimmer's elbow,” the last of which refers to an overuse injury affecting the elbow and forearm. The word is common in both British and American English and is straightforward in tone, without a notable formal or informal distinction.
nounA person who swims, especially someone who swims as a sport or takes part in a swimming race.
- A person who swims, especially as a participant in a race, competition, or recreational activity.
"She trained as a competitive swimmer and won several regional medals."
"The lifeguard was an experienced swimmer."
"Every swimmer had to enter the pool before the race began."
The standard countable plural is “swimmers.”
"The coaches encouraged the swimmers before the final race."
The phrase “swimmer's elbow” names a painful overuse injury caused by repetitive swimming strokes.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does swimmer come from?
“Swimmer” was formed in English by adding the suffix “-er” to “swim,” producing a word for a person who performs that activity. The suffix “-er” is a productive English way of naming an agent or person associated with an action. The resulting word has continued in regular use as the standard noun for someone who swims.
Related word forms
How swimmer is actually used
Neutral in register. “Swimmer” commonly denotes someone who swims regularly or competitively; in a specific competitive context, it can simply mean a participant in a race.