comper: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Low
UK/ˈkɒmpə/

Informal, British English

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “comper” mean?

A person who enters many competitions, especially for prizes.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A person who enters many competitions, especially for prizes.

An individual who makes a hobby or pastime of entering numerous contests, often radio, magazine, or promotional giveaways.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

The term is almost exclusively British English. In American English, the activity is more commonly referred to as 'sweepstaking' and a participant as a 'sweepstakes enthusiast' or 'contestant'.

Connotations

In UK, neutral-to-slightly-humorous. It can suggest a dedicated hobbyist. In US, the specific term is unknown, so no connotation.

Frequency

Very rare in US English; low-frequency specialist term in UK English.

Grammar

How to Use “comper” in a Sentence

(be) a + [ADJ] comperenter competitions like a comper

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
keen comperavid comperprofessional comper
medium
successful comperexperienced compercomper forum
weak
regular comperfellow compertips for compers

Examples

Examples of “comper” in a Sentence

verb

British English

  • She's been comping for years.
  • I comp in my spare time.

adjective

British English

  • She follows all the comper forums.
  • He has a comper's mindset.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Used in marketing/promotions to describe the target demographic of frequent competition entrants.

Academic

Virtually never used.

Everyday

Used within the hobbyist community and understood more broadly in UK media discussing such hobbies.

Technical

Not a technical term.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “comper”

Strong

sweepstakes enthusiast (US)prize hunter

Neutral

competition entrantcontestant

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “comper”

non-entrantspectator

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “comper”

  • Spelling as 'comper' vs. 'comp-er' (rare). Using it in American contexts where it is not understood.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No, it is a low-frequency, specialist term used mainly in British English within the context of prize competitions.

Yes, in UK English, the related verb 'to comp' (meaning to enter competitions) exists, from which 'comper' is derived.

There isn't a single-word equivalent. Phrases like 'sweepstakes enthusiast', 'frequent contestant', or 'prize hunter' are used.

Not inherently. It is neutral, though context could paint it as obsessive or, conversely, as shrewd and successful.

A person who enters many competitions, especially for prizes.

Comper is usually informal, british english in register.

Comper: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒmpə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • He wins so often, he's a comper by trade.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: 'COMPetition EnteRer' shortened to 'COMPER'.

Conceptual Metaphor

HUNTING/PROFESSION (e.g., 'prize hunter', 'he's a professional comper').

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
She spends her weekends entering magazine contests; she's a real .
Multiple Choice

In which variety of English is the noun 'comper' primarily used?

comper: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples | Lingvocore