bumpkin

1 of 2

noun (1)

bump·kin ˈbəm(p)-kən

Synonyms of bumpkin

: an awkward and unsophisticated rustic

bumpkinish

ˈbəm(p)-kə-nish

adjective

bumpkinly

ˈbəm(p)-kən-lē

adjective

bumpkin

2 of 2

noun (2)

bump·kin ˈbəm(p)-kən

variants or bumkin

: a spar projecting from a ship especially at the stern

Examples of bumpkin in a Sentence

Noun (1) the bumpkin was overwhelmed by the city's confusing subway system

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.

Noun

Going to the Ron Burgundy–Ricky Bobby idiot well one time too many, Ferrell plays Cam Brady, a lazy, cynical longtime congressman running against a local bumpkin (Galifianakis). —Tim Grierson, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2025

Carter, perhaps the most decent man to ever occupy the Oval Office, was long written off as a country bumpkin, one who perhaps unsurprisingly left office as a one-term anomaly. —Philip Elliott, TIME, 9 Jan. 2025 Emily in Paris On Location: Hotel Plaza Athénée Paris Rediscover Paris as Chicago bumpkin Emily (played by Lily Collins) moves there for a job and takes you to places like Galeries Lafayette, Galerie-Musee Baccarat and Hotel Plaza Athénée Paris. —Forbes Travel Guide, Forbes, 14 Sep. 2024 At their worst, these histories, like the Soviet one, reduce Ukrainians to lazy, irresponsible, prejudiced country bumpkins with exaggerated penchants for vodka and violence. —Alexander J. Motyl, Foreign Affairs, 4 Aug. 2016 There are no bumpkins in Hamaguchi’s movie, either—no one who can be reduced to a small-town, salt-of-the-earth cliché. —Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 3 May 2024 Working in a glass tower and living in the big city may still be the dream for a bumpkin like Jianlin, but China’s young urbans are starting to head in the opposite direction and seeking more comfortable lifestyles in the countryside. —Mohamed El Aassar, Fortune, 25 Jan. 2024 But there’s a bitter and violent tone of hatred here that’s more reminiscent of 70s thrillers like Straw Dogs or Deliverance, where backwards country bumpkins take out their grievances on innocent newcomers. —Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 July 2023 These skirts are chic, fresh and modern, rather than stuffy or country bumpkin. —Laura Fenton, Washington Post, 13 June 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

perhaps from Dutch bommekijn small cask, from Middle Dutch, from bomme cask

Noun (2)

probably from Dutch boomken, diminutive of boom tree

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1570, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1613, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of bumpkin was in 1570

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

bump joint

bumpkin

bump off

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Bumpkin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bumpkin. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

bumpkin

noun

bump·kin

ˈbəm(p)-kən

: rustic entry 2, yokel

bumpkin

noun (1)

noun (2)

Synonyms

Examples of bumpkin in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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bumpkin

noun (1)

noun (2)

Synonyms

Examples of bumpkin in a Sentence

Word History

Rhymes for bumpkin

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Kids Definition

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