What does "thompson" mean?
A member of a Salish people of British Columbia.
Thompson
/ˈtɑmp.sən/ name, noun
name, noun ·Uncommon ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A member of a Salish people of British Columbia.
- Grammar: thompson is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: family name, last name, surname.
- Useful contrasts: forename, given name.
- Usage evidence: Mrs. Thompson wants to conceal the fact that she is a millionaire.
How to use "thompson"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "thompson" 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 "thompson" 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 "thompson" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "thompson" 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 "thompson" is acting as name, noun 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 "family name" 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 "thompson", 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 A member of a Salish people of British Columbia.
- 2 Ellipsis of Thompson submachine gun (“Tommy gun”). abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
Proper Noun
- 1 A British surname transferred from the given name. countable
"Police believe Mangione had been traveling around Pennsylvania in the days after Thompson was killed, from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh to Altoona, where he was recognized earlier Monday at a McDonald's restaurant."
- 2 A British surname transferred from the given name.; A Scottish surname from Scottish Gaelic. countable, uncountable
- 3 A placename:; A village in Bulgaria. countable, uncountable
- 4 A placename:; A village and civil parish in Breckland district, Norfolk, England (OS grid ref TL9296). countable, uncountable
- 5 A placename:; A city in Northern Manitoba, Canada. countable, uncountable
Show 14 more definitions
- 6 A placename:; A rural municipality in Pembina Valley Region, Manitoba; in full, the Rural Municipality of Thompson. countable, uncountable
- 7 A placename:; A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Bullock County, Alabama. countable, uncountable
- 8 A placename:; A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Napa County, California. countable, uncountable
- 9 A placename:; A number of places in the United States:; A town in Windham County, Connecticut. countable, uncountable
- 10 A placename:; A number of places in the United States:; A minor city in Winnebago County, Iowa. countable, uncountable
- 11 A placename:; A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Audrain County, Missouri. countable, uncountable
- 12 A placename:; A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Jefferson County, Nebraska. countable, uncountable
- 13 A placename:; A number of places in the United States:; A town in Sullivan County, New York. countable, uncountable
- 14 A placename:; A number of places in the United States:; A city in Grand Forks County, North Dakota. countable, uncountable
- 15 A placename:; A number of places in the United States:; A township and unincorporated community therein, in Geauga County, Ohio. countable, uncountable
- 16 A placename:; A number of places in the United States:; A borough in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. countable, uncountable
- 17 A placename:; A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Erin, Washington County, Wisconsin. countable, uncountable
- 18 A placename:; A number of places in the United States:; A number of other townships in the United States, listed under Thompson Township. countable, uncountable
- 19 An Interior Salish language spoken in British Columbia and formerly in Washington. countable, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
forenamegiven name
Example
"Mrs. Thompson wants to conceal the fact that she is a millionaire."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "thompson"?
Common synonyms include: family name, last name, surname.
How do you use "thompson" in a sentence?
Mrs. Thompson wants to conceal the fact that she is a millionaire.
How do you pronounce "thompson"?
Pronounced /ˈtɑmp.sən/.
Etymology
Variant of Thomson, from Tom + -son, originally meaning "son of Thomas". In some instances of people so named, a calque of Scottish Gaelic MacTamhais (“McTavish”); also an anglicisation of the Gaelic name MacTamhais, meaning "son of Thomas".