pusher

[ poosh-er ]

noun

1. a person or thing that pushes.
2. Slang. a peddler of illegal drugs.
3. Aeronautics. an airplane that is driven by pusher propellers.
4. Nautical. one of the masts abaft the mizzen on a sailing vessel having more than three masts, either the sixth or seventh from forward. Compare driver ( def 10b ), spanker ( def 1b ).
5. Railroads. a helper attached to the rear of a train, usually to provide extra power for climbing a steep grade.

pusher

/ ˈpʊʃə /

noun

1. informal.
   a person who sells illegal drugs, esp narcotics such as heroin and morphine
2. informal.
   an actively or aggressively ambitious person
3. 1. a type of aircraft propeller placed behind the engine
   2. a type of aircraft using such a propeller
4. a person or thing that pushes
5. a rakelike implement used by small children to push food onto a spoon
6. the usual name for pushchair

Word History and Origins

Origin of pusher¹

First recorded in 1585–95; push + -er ¹

Example Sentences

The woman said he fitted the police description of a man who pushed people into the canal in 2022, and she asked him if he was the "canal pusher".

From BBC

In 2012, after missing three mortgage payments, she was encouraged to do a short sale by her bank, Washington Mutual, a subprime-mortgage pusher and the largest bank to fail in U.S. history.

From Slate

Timberlake and the band were most in their bag mining the soul, funk and disco sounds of yore, at one point beefing up the candy-shop love song “Pusher Love Girl” with swelling gospel vocals and doo-woppy charm.

From Seattle Times

Popular with tourists, it is known for its liberal attitude towards cannabis and the infamous drug market, Pusher Street.

From BBC

"We've been breaking up Pusher Street. It's closing down today. So it's a kind of a closing party," said local Pia Jagger, carrying away a big stone.

From BBC