brooder

noun

brood·​er ˈbrü-dər How to pronounce brooder (audio)
1
: one that broods
2
: a heated structure used for raising young fowl

Examples of brooder 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.
After going viral for reincarnating the title character from 2003’s Elf — as a beer-drinking and cigarette-smoking brooder, no less — Will Ferrell explained the thought and preparation process behind the stunt. — Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 11 Jan. 2025 The original beautiful brooder, Dean tragically (and famously) died in a car crash four weeks before the premiere, cementing his legacy forever. — Debby Wolfinsohn, EW.com, 15 Sep. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of brooder was in 1599

Rhymes for brooder

See All Rhymes for brooder

Browse Nearby Words

brooder
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Brooder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brooder. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

Kids Definition

brooder

noun
brood·​er ˈbrüd-ər How to pronounce brooder (audio)
1
: a person or animal that broods
2
: a heated structure for raising young poultry

More from Merriam-Webster on brooder

Nglish: Translation of brooder for Spanish Speakers

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular Features

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
dog-in-disguise
Rhyme Disguise Quiz Pair up words that look different but sound alike.
See All