water cooler

noun

1. a container for holding drinking water that is cooled and drawn off by a faucet or spigot.
2. a drinking fountain in which water is cooled by mechanical refrigeration.

water cooler

noun

1. a device for cooling and dispensing drinking water

adjective

1. informal.
   1. indicating the kind of informal conversation among office staff that takes place at such a dispenser

      water-cooler conversations

   2. indicating an event, television programme, etc, sufficiently controversial or otherwise noteworthy to provide subject matter for such conversations

      water-cooler television

      a water-cooler moment

Word History and Origins

Origin of water cooler¹

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50

Example Sentences

“You can get talented people, but the water cooler effect is gone.”

From Los Angeles Times

It was the epitome of water cooler television.

From Los Angeles Times

Martin books call the closing event in Sunday’s episode of “House of the Dragon” — is likely to be a major Westeros water cooler moment.

From New York Times

For nearly 14 years, an online message board called Memegen has served as a virtual water cooler for Google employees.

From New York Times

Social media, for better or worse, has made it even easier for fans to interact with AP voters, taking their spirited conversations from water coolers to the internet.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• faucet