non-swimmer

IPA/ˌnɒnˈswɪm.ər/
IPA/ˌnɑːnˈswɪm.ɚ/

non-swimmer — noun

1. someone who cannot swim and may need extra help or protection near water

1.nounA2
Definition

someone who cannot swim and may need extra help or protection near water

Example

The coach kept the non-swimmers in the shallow pool by the wall.

keep non-swimmers in shallow water for safety

Mayumi wore a life jacket as a cautious non-swimmer on the boat trip.

life jacket + non-swimmer in travel context

Common collocations
  • young non-swimmer
  • adult non-swimmer
  • nervous non-swimmer
  • lessons for non-swimmers
  • area for non-swimmers
Synonyms
  • nonswimmer

    same meaning; this spelling drops the hyphen

Antonyms
  • swimmer

    neutral opposite term for someone who is able to swim

  • strong swimmer

    emphasises skill and confidence in the water, not just basic ability

Grammar Patterns

article + non-swimmer

for non-swimmers

Usage Note

Often appears in safety notices, lesson groups, and travel advice where swimming ability affects what a person can safely do in the water.

Common Mistakes

My son is a non-swimmer, but he can cross the pool slowly.
My son is a beginner swimmer, but he can cross the pool slowly.
A non-swimmer cannot swim yet; someone who can manage a short distance is already a beginner swimmer.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Non-swimmer is the clearest label when a person cannot swim at all. Beginner swimmer is softer and suggests the person has started learning, so they may manage a short distance in shallow water. Weak swimmer means the person can swim, but not strongly or safely in deep water, rough waves, or over a long distance. Swimmer is the broad opposite term and can describe anyone from a child in lessons to an athlete. Use non-swimmer especially in safety notices, pool rules, and travel advice. A camp leader might separate non-swimmers from beginner swimmers before a lake activity.

non-swimmer ↗beginner swimmerweak swimmerswimmer ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • for non-swimmers
  • non-swimmer area
  • non-swimmer lesson

Etymology

LatinOld EnglishEnglish

Built in modern English from the negative prefix non- and swimmer. The second part comes from swim, an Old English verb, so the whole word literally means a person who does not swim.