hogger: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Slang
Quick answer
What does “hogger” mean?
A person who selfishly takes or uses more than their fair share of something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who selfishly takes or uses more than their fair share of something.
Informal term for someone who monopolises a resource, activity, or attention; in specific contexts, it can refer to a type of heavy sweater or a part of a machine (e.g., a coal cutter).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'hogger' can colloquially refer to a thick sweater or jumper. In American English, this clothing sense is rare; the 'selfish person' sense is primary.
Connotations
Negative for selfish behaviour in both varieties. The clothing sense in BrE is neutral/informal.
Frequency
The word is uncommon in both varieties. The 'selfish person' sense is slightly more frequent in AmE.
Grammar
How to Use “hogger” in a Sentence
[determiner] + hogger + [of + resource][be] + a + hoggerVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; may be used informally to criticise a colleague who monopolises meeting time or credit.
Academic
Extremely rare, except in sociology/psychology when discussing resource allocation in groups.
Everyday
Used informally to complain about someone's selfish behaviour with shared items (food, TV, etc.).
Technical
In mining/engineering, a 'coal hogger' is a type of cutting machine. In IT, 'bandwidth hogger' describes a process/user consuming excessive network capacity.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hogger”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hogger”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hogger”
- Using 'hogger' in formal writing.
- Confusing 'hogger' (person) with 'hog' (the animal or verb).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is predominantly informal or slang. Technical uses in engineering or IT are specialised jargon.
Yes, in specific technical fields (e.g., 'coal hogger' in mining) and informally for a resource-heavy application ('memory hogger').
'Hog' is primarily the animal or a verb meaning 'to take selfishly'. 'Hogger' is the agent noun for a person (or thing) that hogs.
It is a dated, colloquial British term for a thick sweater. It is not widely used today.
A person who selfishly takes or uses more than their fair share of something.
Hogger: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɒɡ.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɑː.ɡɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “road hogger (BrE/AmE): a driver who takes up too much road space.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a HOG (pig) wearing a sweater, greedily eating all the food at a shared table — a HOGGER.
Conceptual Metaphor
RESOURCES ARE FOOD; a selfish person is a pig (hog) consuming greedily.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'hogger' most likely to be used neutrally or technically?