boxer

IPA/ˈbɒksə(r)/
KK[bˈɑksɚ]IPA/ˈbɑːksər/

boxer — noun

  • boxersingular
  • boxersplural

1. a person who is trained to fight with their hands in boxing matches, either as a

1.nounB2
Definition

a person who is trained to fight with their hands in boxing matches, either as a sport or as paid work.

Example

Priya became a boxer after two years at the local gym.

become a boxer

At seventeen, Diego fought his first match as an amateur boxer.

amateur boxer

Common collocations
  • amateur boxer
  • professional boxer
  • heavyweight boxer
  • former boxer
  • champion boxer
Synonyms
  • fighter

    broader word that can include people from many combat sports, not only boxing

  • prizefighter

    older or journalistic word, especially for a professional boxer

  • pugilist

    formal or literary word, much less common in everyday speech

Grammar Patterns

become a boxer

amateur/professional/heavyweight boxer

boxer + fight/train/win

Usage Note

Often appears with words such as amateur, professional, and heavyweight. Distinguish this sense from noun/2: this one names a person in the sport, not the dog breed.

Common Mistakes

My sister is a boxing player.
My sister is a boxer.
Use boxer for the person who does the sport.

2. a medium-sized to large dog breed from Germany, with a short coat, a strong body

2.nounC2
Definition

a medium-sized to large dog breed from Germany, with a short coat, a strong body, and a square face.

Example

The boxer slept beside the sofa with one paw over its toy.

Hana walks her boxer around the park before breakfast every day.

walk a boxer

Common collocations
  • boxer dog
  • boxer puppy
  • pet boxer
  • train a boxer
  • walk a boxer
Synonyms
  • Boxer dog

    full breed name, often used when the context might be unclear

  • German boxer

    less common name that stresses the breed's origin

Grammar Patterns

Boxer / boxer dog

walk/feed/train a boxer

boxer + puppy/breed/owner

Usage Note

When naming the breed, many writers capitalize it as Boxer. Distinguish this sense from noun/1: this one usually appears in pet or breed contexts, with words such as puppy, leash, owner, and vet.

Common Mistakes

My aunt has a boxer, and she trains at the gym every night.
My aunt has a boxer dog, and it runs in the yard every night.
In this sense, boxer names a dog breed, not a person.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These words overlap, but they are not used in exactly the same way. 'Boxer' is the normal everyday word for a person who does boxing, whether amateur or professional. 'Fighter' is broader: it can describe a boxer, but it also fits people in kickboxing, MMA, or other combat sports. 'Prizefighter' is an older or more journalistic word and usually points to a professional boxer who fights for money. 'Pugilist' is formal and literary, so it sounds unusual in ordinary conversation. In most cases, say 'She is a talented boxer.' Use 'fighter' when the sport is not boxing, and save 'pugilist' for stylized writing.

boxer ↗fighter ↗prizefighterpugilist

Etymology

EnglishGermanEnglish

This word was first formed in English from the verb 'box' and the suffix '-er', giving the meaning 'a person who boxes'. The dog-breed sense came later through German Boxer, the name for the breed developed in Germany. That breed name was probably influenced by the idea that the dog seems to spar with its front paws like a human fighter.