sweeper

noun

sweep·​er ˈswē-pər How to pronounce sweeper (audio)
1
: one that sweeps
2
: a lone back in soccer who plays between the line of the defenders and the goal

Examples of sweeper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Junior Caminero singled in the sixth and Mesa sent a sweeper deep into the right-field seats to chase Fried. — CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026 Instead, Mesa made his 80th pitch — a 78-mph sweeper — his final hurl. — Nicolas Villamil, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026 With two outs, in an 0-and-2 count, Bubic got Harris to chase an outside sweeper moving away from him. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026 Smith stepped back into the batter’s box, saw another sweeper and swung through it. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sweeper

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sweeper was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing sweeper

Rhymes for sweeper

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Browse Nearby Words

sweepdom
sweeper
sweepforward
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Cite this Entry

“Sweeper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sweeper. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sweeper

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sweeper

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