gander: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Informal, especially in its idiomatic/extended senses.
Quick answer
What does “gander” mean?
An adult male goose.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An adult male goose.
1) A casual look or glance (from the idiom 'take a gander'). 2) (Informal) A foolish or simple man.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The idiomatic sense 'take a gander' (to look) is used in both varieties, but is slightly more common in AmE. The primary ornithological/agricultural meaning shows no significant variation.
Connotations
In both varieties, the bird meaning is neutral. The idiom is informal, friendly, and sometimes suggests a curious or casual look.
Frequency
Overall low frequency. The idiom is more likely to be encountered in spoken or informal written English than the literal sense.
Grammar
How to Use “gander” in a Sentence
to take/have a gander [at sth]the gander [of the flock]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gander” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A. 'Gander' is not standard as a verb in modern English.
American English
- N/A. 'Gander' is not standard as a verb in modern English.
adverb
British English
- N/A. 'Gander' is not used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A. 'Gander' is not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- N/A. 'Gander' is not used as an adjective.
American English
- N/A. 'Gander' is not used as an adjective.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear humorously: 'Let's take a gander at the quarterly figures.'
Academic
Virtually absent except in biological/zoological texts discussing *Anser* species.
Everyday
The idiom is used informally: 'Take a gander at that sunset!' The literal meaning is known but seldom used in urban contexts.
Technical
Used in ornithology and poultry farming to specify the sex of a goose.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gander”
- Using 'gander' as a verb meaning 'to look' (e.g., 'I gandered at it' is non-standard; must use 'take a gander').
- Confusing 'gander' (male) with 'goose' (female/general) in literal contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not standard. The correct form is the phrasal verb 'to take/have a gander at something'.
Its literal meaning (male goose) is low-frequency. The idiom 'take a gander' is more common but still informal.
A 'goose'. The word 'goose' can refer to the species in general or specifically to a female.
No, it's informal and light-hearted, not offensive. The dated slang meaning of 'gander' as a foolish man is rarely used now.
An adult male goose.
Gander is usually informal, especially in its idiomatic/extended senses. in register.
Gander: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡændə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡændər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “take a gander (at something)”
- “what's good for the goose is good for the gander”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a curious male GOOSE named GANDER taking a long LOOK at his reflection in the water. The word links the animal and the act of looking.
Conceptual Metaphor
LOOKING IS DIRECTING ONE'S GAZE (like a goose stretching its neck to see). FOOLISHNESS IS BIRDBRAINED (the dated sense).
Practice
Quiz
In the idiom 'take a gander', what does 'gander' mean?