sweeper

[ swee-per ]

noun

1. a person or thing that sweeps. sweeps. sweep.
2. carpet sweeper.
3. a janitor.
4. any of several fishes of the family Pempherididae, of tropical and warm, temperate seas, having an oblong, compressed body.

sweeper

/ ˈswiːpə /

noun

1. a person employed to sweep, such as a roadsweeper
2. any device for sweeping

   a carpet sweeper

3. informal.
   soccer a player who supports the main defenders, as by intercepting loose balls, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of sweeper¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; sweep ¹, -er ¹

Example Sentences

“Street sweepers, sanitation crews took all of the property and much of the garbage that was out there, and as of this morning, it remains clean,” Dyer said in early November.

From Los Angeles Times

Stanton, on the other hand, can be more susceptible to sweepers, having slugged just .349 against the pitch — a specialty of several key Dodgers relievers — this season.

From Los Angeles Times

“Manaea actually made a really good pitch with the backdoor sweeper,” said Andrew Friedman, the team’s president of baseball operations.

From Los Angeles Times

But he executed a crucial three-pitch sequence against Jesse Winker, dotting a couple outer edge fastballs before snapping off a sweeper that Winker hit to left.

From Los Angeles Times

In the second, Mookie Betts struck out to strand the bases loaded, going down swinging on a sweeper well out of the zone.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• attendant
• custodian
• sitter
• superintendent