boxer

¹ American  

[bok-ser] / ˈbɒk sər /

noun

1. a person who fights as a sport, usually with gloved fists, according to set rules; prize-fighter; pugilist.

2. one of a German breed of medium-sized, stocky, short-haired, pug-faced dogs having a brindled or tan coat with white markings.

3. a person or thing that packs items into boxes.

4. boxers. boxer shorts.

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Boxer ² American  

[bok-ser] / ˈbɒk sər /

noun

1. a member of a Chinese secret society that carried on an unsuccessful uprising, 1898–1900 BoxerRebellion, principally against foreigners, culminating in a siege of foreign legations in Peking (now Beijing) that was put down by an international expeditionary force.

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Boxer ¹ British  

/ ˈbɒksə /

noun

1. 1. a member of a nationalistic Chinese secret society that led an unsuccessful rebellion in 1900 against foreign interests in China

   2. ( as modifier )

      the Boxer Rebellion

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boxer ² British  

/ ˈbɒksə /

noun

1. a person who boxes, either professionally or as a hobby; pugilist

2. a medium-sized smooth-haired breed of dog with a short nose and a docked tail

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Etymology

Origin of boxer¹

First recorded in 1735–45; box ² + -er ¹

Origin of Boxer²

First recorded in 1895–1900; translation of Chinese yìhé juǎn “Righteous Harmony Fist,” name of the militant policy of the yìhé tuán “Righteous Harmony Group”

Explanation

Someone taking part in a sport in which two people punch each other with big padded gloves is a boxer. If you want to be a boxer, you'll need to build your arm strength and practice fast-moving footwork. If you spend time training at a boxing gym, sparring in the ring with partners who dance around throwing jabs in your direction, you can call yourself a boxer. If your job involves putting things into cardboard boxes, you're another kind of boxer. A third meaning of this word is a smooth-coated, serious-faced breed of dog that's named for its habit of standing up and "boxing" with its paws when it plays with other dogs.

Example Sentences

It felt as if a boxer had used my bladder as a punching bag.

From Slate • Apr. 18, 2026

For week 33, he takes on boxer and Everton fan Molly McCann, and Boo Radleys frontman Dr Simon 'Sice' Rowbottom, who supports Liverpool.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

Smith says no boxer he has spoken to has ever taken the option to "top up" their insurance, and past attempts to create pensions were met with a lack of interest.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

I first heard his name at Anaheim High School in the mid-1990s and thought my teacher was talking about Julio Cesar Chavez, the famous Mexican boxer.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

He took out a stack of boxer shorts with red and blue anchors on them.

From "Crash" by Jerry Spinelli

Related Words

• fighter
• prizefighter