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Synonyms

grafter

1 American  
[graf-ter, grahf-] / ˈgræf tər, ˈgrɑf- /

noun

  1. Horticulture. a person who combines plants by inserting a bud, shoot, or scion of one plant into a groove or slit in the stem or stock of another, where it continues to grow.

    Join us for a fun time as newbies and seasoned grafters mingle and swap cuttings of various fruit trees.
grafter 2 American  
[graf-ter, grahf-] / ˈgræf tər, ˈgrɑf- /

noun

  1. a person who obtains money or other advantage by dishonest, unfair, or illegal means, especially through the abuse of position or influence in politics, business, etc..

    For 17 years she had been writing newspaper stories about grafters—crooked bankers, corrupt politicians, and the like—and winning armloads of journalism awards for it.

  2. British Slang. a worker, especially a particularly industrious or dedicated worker.

    To succeed in this job you also need to be a real grafter, someone eager for a chance to work hard in an ever-growing company.

Etymology

Origin of grafter1

graft 1 ( def. ) + -er 1 ( def. )

Origin of grafter2

graft 2 + -er 1 ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The couple, who had been together for 24 years, shared a "beautiful family and a granddaughter", Mrs Day said, describing her husband as "just a typical family man, a grafter and a gentle giant".

From BBC • Jul. 31, 2025

He went from working in the vineyards to becoming a master grafter and eventually owning land and opening his tasting room.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 5, 2023

William Jefferson, the Louisiana congressman who kept cash in the freezer in his apartment, was a grafter.

From Slate • May 10, 2018

A grafter, a liar, a serial bankrupt, a serial divorcee!

From New York Times • Sep. 28, 2016

If he kept all the money that he handled in the course of the year, he couldn't be a really successful grafter.

From In Pastures New by Ade, George

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.