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rancher

American  
[ran-cher] / ˈræn tʃər /

noun

  1. a person who owns or works on a ranch.

rancher British  
/ ˈrɑːntʃə /

noun

  1. a person who owns, manages, or works on a ranch

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of rancher

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40; ranch + -er 1

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.

In Medora: In “Wooly Boys,” a grizzled sheep rancher played by Peter Fonda is tricked into taking a road trip with his grandson.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026

“This petition is going to hurt the mountain lion more than anything,” said Vince Fontana, a fourth-generation rancher from San Mateo County.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 12, 2026

Among them is Amanda Garcia, a cattle rancher who lives near Rio Grande City, Texas, on the Mexican border.

From BBC • Jan. 18, 2026

A local rancher hired the migrant to manage his herd of cattle.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 18, 2026

He wanted to march up to the three-bodied rancher, smack him in the face, and yell, Thanks a lot, Tex!

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

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.