ringer

¹

[ ring-er ]

noun

1. a person or thing that encircles, rings, etc.
2. a quoit or horseshoe so thrown as to encircle the peg.
3. the throw itself.
4. Also ringers. Also called ring taw. Marbles. a game in which players place marbles in a cross marked in the center of a circle, the object being to knock as many marbles as possible outside the circle by using another marble shooter.
5. Australian. a highly skilled sheep shearer.

ringer

²

[ ring-er ]

noun

1. a person or thing that rings or makes a ringing noise:

   a ringer of bells;

   a bell that is a loud ringer.

2. dead ringer ( def ).

   Synonyms: spitting image, look-alike, duplicate, doppelgänger, double

3. Slang.
   1. a racehorse, athlete, or the like entered in a competition under false representation as to identity or ability.
   2. a student paid by another to take an exam.
   3. any person or thing that is fraudulent; fake or impostor.
   4. a substitute or addition, as a professional musician hired to strengthen a school orchestra:

      We hired three ringers for the commencement concert.

ringer

/ ˈrɪŋə /

noun

1. a person or thing that rings a bell
2. slang.
   Also calleddead ringer a person or thing that is almost identical to another
3. slang.
   a stolen vehicle the identity of which has been changed by the use of the licence plate, serial number, etc, of another, usually disused, vehicle
4. a contestant, esp a horse, entered in a competition under false representations of identity, record, or ability
5. the fastest shearer in a shed
6. informal.
   the fastest or best at anything
7. a quoit thrown so as to encircle a peg
8. such a throw

Word History and Origins

Origin of ringer¹

First recorded in 1815–25; ring ¹ + -er ¹

Origin of ringer²

First recorded in 1375–1425; ring ² + -er ¹( def )

Example Sentences

In his opinion, Thomas noted that modern regulations don’t have to be a “dead ringer for historical precursors.”

From FiveThirtyEight

These are women who have gone through the ringer since they came forward.

From Time

Between that and her usual predisposition to SAD, her mental health is going through the ringer.

From Time

I’ve proven Lewis wrong before, much to my delight, so I ran this claim through the Fact Check ringer.

From Voice of San Diego

A drawing of what was deemed a “deer pig” was also sent through the uranium decay ringer.

From The Daily Beast

The e-cigarette needs no additional evidence that it is a ringer.

From The Daily Beast

More than a ringer, it is yet another manifestation of the American genius at finding loopholes.

From The Daily Beast

And the kid playing Biggie is a dead ringer for the silky smooth MC.

From The Daily Beast

The Italian judicial system has essentially been put through the ringer in this case, and has come out stained.

From The Daily Beast

To the old ringer, Death, who before had grinned so diabolically, is a gentle and trusted friend.

From Project Gutenberg

Let them study the words “ringer” , “linger” , and “ginger” .

From Project Gutenberg

In some instances church boys have descended to welcome the "ringer" for the purpose of "putting it over" their competitors.

From Project Gutenberg

A ring came at the bell—Krakatoa had no knocker—and a short colloquy followed between Jane and the ringer.

From Project Gutenberg

It was no ringer, but Harding himself, complete to the smallest personal memories and personality traits.

From Project Gutenberg