geezer

IPA/ˈɡiːzə(r)/
IPA/ˈɡiːzər/

geezer — noun

  • geezersingular
  • geezersplural

1. an old man, used in a relaxed or joking way and sometimes when you think he beha

1.nounC1
Definition

an old man, used in a relaxed or joking way and sometimes when you think he behaves in a strange way

Example

An old geezer in a flat cap sat feeding pigeons outside the station.

common pattern: old geezer (relaxed, slightly humorous)

Emma laughed and called her grandfather a grumpy old geezer for shouting at the kids.

playful, affectionate use among family

Common collocations
  • old geezer
  • grumpy old geezer
  • funny old geezer
Synonyms
  • codger

    also informal for an old man, usually a bit grumpy or odd

  • bloke

    British informal for any man, no age meaning

  • guy

    neutral informal word for a man of any age

Usage Note

Informal and almost always spoken; it carries a light, teasing tone rather than respect, so avoid it in formal writing or when speaking to or about someone politely. In British English it can also mean simply 'a man, a bloke' with no reference to age.

Common Mistakes

The professor was a respected geezer in his field.
The professor was a respected figure in his field.
'geezer' is casual and slightly mocking, so it clashes with a formal, respectful tone.
She is a kind old geezer.
He is a kind old geezer.
'geezer' refers to a man, not a woman.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four are informal words for a man, but they differ in age and tone. 'Geezer' points to an old man and adds a light, teasing flavour — it can be friendly or slightly mocking, as in 'a funny old geezer'. 'Codger' is close in meaning but leans harder on grumpy or odd behaviour, so it sounds more critical. 'Bloke' is British and very common; it means any man of any age with no judgement at all ('a nice bloke from work'). 'Guy' is the most neutral and widely used everywhere, again with no age sense ('the guy at the counter'). So if you want to sound respectful, none of these fits well; for an elderly, slightly eccentric man, 'geezer' or 'codger' is the natural pick.

geezer ↗codger ↗blokeguy ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • old geezer
  • grumpy old geezer
  • funny old geezer

Etymology

English (dialect 'guiser')English

The word grew out of an older British dialect word 'guiser', meaning someone in disguise or a mummer who dressed up to perform at festivals. Because such performers looked odd or unfamiliar, the term drifted toward meaning a strange person, and by the late nineteenth century it settled into the modern informal sense of an old or peculiar man.