bowler: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Sporting contexts: neutral to formal. Hat context: neutral, somewhat dated but known.
Quick answer
What does “bowler” mean?
A person who bowls in cricket or baseball.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who bowls in cricket or baseball; the member of a sports team who delivers the ball to the batter.
A type of hat (also called a derby in US English), typically a hard felt hat with a rounded crown. Also, one who participates in the sport of bowling (e.g., ten-pin, lawn bowling).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'bowler' refers primarily to a cricket player or the hat. In the US, it most commonly refers to a person who plays ten-pin bowling; the hat is called a 'derby'. In cricket contexts in the US, 'bowler' is used but is rare.
Connotations
UK: cricket bowler implies skill, strategy; the hat can have associations with businessmen, bankers, or traditional British culture. US: bowling participant is recreational; 'derby' hat can evoke historical fashion or costumes.
Frequency
In UK, cricket sense is frequent in sports media; hat sense is lower frequency but culturally recognized. In US, sports sense almost exclusively = ten-pin bowling; hat sense very low frequency except as 'derby'.
Grammar
How to Use “bowler” in a Sentence
[bowler] + [verb] (bowled, took, delivered)[adjective] + [bowler] (fast, left-arm, right-arm)[bowler] + [preposition] (for a team, in an innings)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bowler” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He had a bowler-hatted appearance.
- Bowler-friendly pitch conditions.
American English
- Bowler-friendly lane conditions.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in metaphorical UK idiom related to dismissal.
Academic
Used in sports science, history of cricket, or cultural studies (re: hat).
Everyday
Common in sports discussions (cricket in UK, bowling in US). Hat reference understood but less common.
Technical
In cricket: specific types (seam bowler, swing bowler). In sports equipment: refers to hat design.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bowler”
- Using 'bowler' to mean any hat (only a specific type). Confusing the cricket role with a baseball pitcher. Using US 'derby' in UK context or vice versa.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In the UK, a bowler is primarily a cricket player or a type of hat. In the US, it's primarily a person who plays ten-pin bowling, and the hat is called a derby.
No, 'bowler' is a noun. The related verb is 'to bowl'.
Not in everyday mainstream fashion; it is now considered a niche, vintage, or costume item, strongly associated with a specific period and style.
Yes, in all senses (cricket, bowling sports). The term is not gender-specific.
A person who bowls in cricket or baseball.
Bowler is usually sporting contexts: neutral to formal. hat context: neutral, somewhat dated but known. in register.
Bowler: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbəʊlə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈboʊlər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “bowler-hatted (UK, adj.)”
- “to be given one's bowler hat (UK, informal, meaning to be dismissed from a job)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'The BOWLER BOWLS the ball and wears a BOWLER hat.' Both start with 'bowl'.
Conceptual Metaphor
BOWLER IS A DELIVERY AGENT (sports), BOWLER HAT IS A SYMBOL OF TRADITION/STATUS.
Practice
Quiz
In American English, what is the more common term for a 'bowler hat'?