floater

[ floh-ter ]

noun

1. a person or thing that floats.
2. Informal. a person who is continually changing their place of residence, employment, etc.
3. an employee without a fixed job assignment:

   One of our officers works as a floater, filling in when someone is out.

4. U.S. Politics. a voter not attached to any party, especially a person whose vote may be purchased.
5. a person who fraudulently votes, usually for pay, in different places in the same election.
6. a speck or string that appears to be drifting across the eye just outside the line of vision, caused by cells or cell fragments in the vitreous humor registering on the retina; musca volitans.
7. Also called floating policy. Insurance. a policy that insures movable personal property, covering a loss in any location.
8. Finance. any security or note that has a floating rate.
9. Medicine/Medical Slang. a corpse found floating in a body of water.
10. Animal Behavior. a territorial animal that has been unable to claim a territory and is forced into undefended, marginal areas with limited resources.
11. Australian. a meat pie served in a plate of gravy or pea soup.

floater

/ ˈfləʊtə /

noun

1. a person or thing that floats
2. any of a number of dark spots that appear in one's vision as a result of dead cells or fragments in the lens or vitreous humour of the eye
3. 1. a person of no fixed political opinion
   2. a person who votes illegally in more than one district at one election
   3. a voter who can be bribed
4. Also calledfloating policy insurance a policy covering loss or theft of or damage to movable property, such as jewels or furs, regardless of its location
5. informal.
   a person who often changes employment, residence, etc; drifter
6. a loose gold- or opal-bearing rock
7. (esp in Adelaide) a meat pie in a plate of pea soup

Word History and Origins

Origin of floater¹

First recorded in 1710–20; float + -er ¹

Example Sentences

He scored on a floater in the lane, but couldn’t connect beyond that.

From Los Angeles Times

He has been able to run the offense, make the right pass for an assist, shoot the three, drive the lane and shoot the floater.

From Los Angeles Times

“One of the floaters, Naomi, was pulled under the water and held by the paddle board leash,” the post said.

From Los Angeles Times

Much to residents’ chagrin, the area was featured in a TikTok post, celebrating a “beautiful river” area for families to picnic and showing children in brightly colored floaters playing in the water.

From Los Angeles Times

The system of floaters attaches directly to preexisting structures — like breakwaters, wharfs and jetties — and produces energy from the constant motion of the waves.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• foreigner
• immigrant
• migrant
• outsider
• refugee
• settler
• stranger
• visitor