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Synonyms

skipper

1 American  
[skip-er] / ˈskɪp ər /

noun

  1. the master or captain of a vessel, especially of a small trading or fishing vessel.

  2. a captain or leader, as of a team.

verb (used with object)

  1. to act as skipper of.

skipper 2 American  
[skip-er] / ˈskɪp ər /

noun

  1. a person or thing that skips.

  2. any of various insects that hop or fly with jerky motions.

  3. any of numerous quick-flying, lepidopterous insects of the family Hesperiidae, closely related to the true butterflies.

  4. saury.

skipper 1 British  
/ ˈskɪpə /

noun

  1. the captain of any vessel

  2. the captain of an aircraft

  3. a manager or leader, as of a sporting team

"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

verb

  1. to act as skipper (of)

"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
skipper 2 British  
/ ˈskɪpə /

noun

  1. a person or thing that skips

  2. any small butterfly of the family Hesperiidae, having a hairy mothlike body and erratic darting flight

  3. another name for saury

"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 skipper1

1350–1400; Middle English < Middle Dutch schipper, equivalent to schip ship 1 + -er -er 1

Origin of skipper2

1200–50; Middle English: locust. See skip 1, -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.

Ex-Marlins manager Skip Schumaker will take the reins from four-time World Series champion Bruce Bochy, who did not return as the club’s skipper.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

Luke Donald will attempt to become the first captain to win three Ryder Cups in a row after his third term as European skipper was confirmed for next year's edition in Ireland.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

England are the only team to secure a place in the semi-finals so far after skipper Harry Brook's match-winning century against Pakistan.

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

In the loss to South Africa, Abhishek's opening partner Ishan Kishan fell for a fourth-ball duck after skipper Aiden Markram opened the bowling with off-spin.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

“Hebe, get in here for a second, on the double. Your skipper needs you.”

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

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.