What does "sundowner" mean?
An itinerant worker, such as a swagman, who arrives at a farm too late in the day to do any work, but readily accepts food and lodging.
Sundowner
noun, slang
noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An itinerant worker, such as a swagman, who arrives at a farm too late in the day to do any work, but readily accepts food and lodging.
- Grammar: sundowner is listed as noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: aperitif, arab, beach bum, beachcomber.
- Usage evidence: What he saw was not usual in this part of Australia - a sundowner, a bush waif who tramps from north to south or from east to west, never working, cadging rations from the far-flung homesteads and having the ability of the camel to do without water, or find it.
How to use "sundowner"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "sundowner" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "sundowner" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "sundowner" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "sundowner" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "sundowner" is acting as noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "aperitif" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "sundowner", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An itinerant worker, such as a swagman, who arrives at a farm too late in the day to do any work, but readily accepts food and lodging. Australia, obsolete
"What he saw was not usual in this part of Australia - a sundowner, a bush waif who tramps from north to south or from east to west, never working, cadging rations from the far-flung homesteads and having the ability of the camel to do without water, or find it."
- 2 a drink taken at sundown wordnet
- 3 An itinerant worker, a swagman. Australia, obsolete
- 4 a tramp who habitually arrives at sundown wordnet
- 5 A sea captain who shows harsh discipline by requiring all hands to be on board by sundown.
"Arrogant, aloof, and suspicious, a “sundowner,” or strict disciplinarian, King inspired respect in many but affection in few."
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 A patient, usually demented, who tends to become agitated in the evening. colloquial
"These patients may improve by day only to relapse at night (nocturnal delirium or sundowner's syndrome)."
- 7 A cocktail consumed at sunset, or to signify the end of the day. Africa, Southern, especially
"The cocktail, the universal “sherry and bitters” and sundowner will have to be retained."
- 8 A cocktail party held in the early evening.
"The Sundowner is basically a cocktail party with a buffet on a riverbank in the bush."
- 9 A physician employed by the government who practises for private fees after his official hours.
- 10 Any worker who practises for private fees after official hours.
"These "sundowners" hold jobs in other — usually related — trades, and do their servicing nights and weekends."
- 11 A northerly offshore wind which occurs in California along the southern Pacific slope of Santa Ynez Mountains when a region of high pressure is north of the area (the coast of which trends east to west), often preceding or following a Santa Ana and typically occurring at night and ceasing during the day (hence the name).
"[…] Sundowners originate as a high pressure nudges onto the coast of San Luis […]"
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"What he saw was not usual in this part of Australia - a sundowner, a bush waif who tramps from north to south or from east to west, never working, cadging rations from the far-flung homesteads and having the ability of the camel to do without water, or find it."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "sundowner"?
Common synonyms include: aperitif, arab, beach bum, beachcomber, beggar, beggarly fellow.
How do you use "sundowner" in a sentence?
What he saw was not usual in this part of Australia - a sundowner, a bush waif who tramps from north to south or from east to west, never working, cadging rations from the far-flung homesteads and having the ability of the camel to do without water, or find it.
Etymology
From sundown + -er.