What does windsurfer mean?
A windsurfer is, most commonly, a person who rides a windsurfboard: a board fitted with a mast and a flexible sail that converts the force of the wind into motion. In British and American English, the word can also refer more rarely to the board itself, although windsurfboard is usually clearer for the equipment. The activity, windsurfing, combines elements of surfing and sailing: the rider stands on the board, controls the sail, and travels across relatively flat water rather than relying on a breaking wave. The term arose with the modern sport in the twentieth century and is now familiar in coastal and recreational settings worldwide. Because windsurfer so strongly evokes a person, sailor is not a true synonym; the essential distinction is the use of a wind-powered rig rather than an ordinary sailboat. It remains a useful word for identifying the rider as well as for discussing the sport, its equipment, and its competitive culture.
nounA person who rides a windsurfboard, a board equipped with a mast and sail that uses the wind for propulsion. Less commonly, the word can also refer to the windsurfboard itself.
- A person who rides a windsurfboard.
- A board designed for windsurfing, used as an alternative to the more specific term windsurfboard.
"The windsurfer leaned into the sail and raced toward the shore."
"The windsurfer adjusted the angle of the sail as the wind shifted."
"The club rents windsurfers by the hour during the summer."
The regular plural is used when referring to multiple riders or, less commonly, multiple boards.
"The two windsurfers waited for the gust to strengthen before leaving the harbor."
A windsurfer’s sail does more than catch the wind—it acts like a wing, using aerodynamic lift to pull the rider across the water.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of windsurfer
Windsurfer is an English compound formed from wind and surfer, with surfer denoting a person who surfs. The word belongs to the development of modern windsurfing, a sport and form of equipment that emerged during the twentieth century. Related terms sharing its elements include windmill and windward from wind, and surfer and surfboard from surf.
Related word forms
How windsurfer is actually used
The word is generally neutral and commonly functions as a singular count noun. Its sense for the equipment is less frequent than its sense for the person; windsurfboard is usually clearer when referring specifically to the board.
Easily confused with windsurfer
A surfer rides a wave on a surfboard, whereas a windsurfer rides a wind-powered board fitted with a sail.