duffer

American  

[duhf-er] / ˈdʌf ər /

noun

1. Informal.

   1. a plodding, clumsy, incompetent person.

   2. a person inept or inexperienced at a specific sport, as golf.

2. Northern and North Midland U.S. an old man, especially a dull or indecisive one.

3. Slang.

   1. anything inferior, counterfeit, or useless.

   2. a peddler, especially one who sells cheap, flashy goods.

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duffer British  

/ ˈdʌfə /

noun

1. informal a dull or incompetent person

2. slang something worthless

3. dialect a peddler or hawker

4. slang

   1. a mine that proves unproductive

   2. a person who steals cattle

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Etymology

Origin of duffer

1835–45; perhaps Scots dialect duffar, dowfart “dull, stupid person,” derivative of dowf; duffer def. 3 perhaps re-formation with duff ³ + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Pitino, who’s seen everything at least twice, took in the scene stoically, then walked over and shook hands with the Kansas bench, looking like a duffer conceding a putt.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

Imagine a duffer beating a PGA Tour player at the local pro-am.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 20, 2022

Still another old duffer goes on and on about the heart problems that led to his death.

From Washington Post • Apr. 8, 2015

As one duffer said: “Just to test out.”

From New York Times • Apr. 22, 2012

Why, you duffer, we've only just come down from the Homestead.

From A Crime of the Under-seas by Boothby, Guy Newell