pusher: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal, with slang/drug-related connotation.
Quick answer
What does “pusher” mean?
A person or thing that pushes something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person or thing that pushes something.
Most commonly refers to a dealer in illegal drugs. Also, an ambitious or aggressively self-advancing person.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use 'drug pusher' equally. The term 'push-chair' (UK) for a baby stroller is called a 'stroller' (US). 'Pusher' as part of a compound for a device (e.g., 'lawn mower pusher') is equally common.
Connotations
Overwhelmingly negative in the drug-dealing sense in both varieties. The neutral literal sense is less common.
Frequency
The drug-dealer sense is high-frequency in news/crime contexts. The literal sense ('door pusher') is low-frequency technical or descriptive.
Grammar
How to Use “pusher” in a Sentence
[determiner] + pusher (of + [noun])[adjective] + pusherVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pusher” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - 'Pusher' is a noun.
American English
- N/A - 'Pusher' is a noun.
adverb
British English
- N/A - 'Pusher' is not used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A - 'Pusher' is not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- N/A - 'Pusher' is not used as an adjective.
American English
- N/A - 'Pusher' is not used as an adjective.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in metaphorical 'boundary pusher' for an innovator.
Academic
Rare, except in criminology/drug policy discussions.
Everyday
Common, almost exclusively in the context of illegal drugs.
Technical
Used in engineering/physics for a component that applies force (e.g., 'aircraft pusher propeller').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “pusher”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pusher”
- Using 'pusher' in a positive business context (sounds like a drug dealer).
- Confusing 'pusher' (noun) with 'to push' (verb) in sentence structure.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, but that is its most common modern meaning. Literal meanings (one who pushes) exist but are less frequent in everyday talk.
Very rarely. Even in metaphors ('boundary-pusher'), it carries a slight connotation of aggression or rule-breaking. It is generally a negative or neutral term.
In drug contexts, they are synonyms. 'Pusher' is more informal and emphasizes the act of selling/pushing drugs onto users, often at a street level. 'Dealer' is more general.
No, that's a different compound. 'Pedal pushers' are a type of calf-length trousers, originally for cycling. The 'pusher' there comes from pushing pedals, not from the drug sense.
A person or thing that pushes something.
Pusher is usually informal, with slang/drug-related connotation. in register.
Pusher: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpʊʃə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpʊʃər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[none directly with 'pusher' as a single word]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'PUSH-button' for an elevator. A 'pusher' is like a person who is the 'button' for drugs - they provide access.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMERCE IS WAR / A DRUG DEALER IS AN AGGRESSOR (pusher invokes force, aggression).
Practice
Quiz
In contemporary informal English, what does 'pusher' most likely refer to?