ripper: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal (when meaning 'excellent'); Technical/Historical (when referring to tools or murderers).
Quick answer
What does “ripper” mean?
A person or thing that rips, tears, or cuts something apart.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person or thing that rips, tears, or cuts something apart.
1. Something or someone that is excellent or outstanding (informal, chiefly Australian/British). 2. A tool or machine for ripping or cutting. 3. A murderer who mutilates victims (historical, as in 'Jack the Ripper').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The informal positive sense ('That's ripper!') is common in Australian and British English but rare in American English. The tool/murderer senses are understood in all varieties.
Connotations
In BrE/AusE, can be warmly positive. In AmE, primary connotations are neutral/technical (tool) or negative/historical (murderer).
Frequency
The positive informal sense is of low frequency in AmE. The tool sense is more frequent in technical contexts across all varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “ripper” in a Sentence
[be] a ripper[use/operate] a ripper[call sb] a ripperVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ripper” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- We had a ripper time at the beach.
- That's a ripper idea!
American English
- (Rare in this sense) He told a ripper of a story.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in specific industries (e.g., 'timber ripper').
Academic
Used in historical contexts (e.g., Victorian crime studies) or technical engineering.
Everyday
Informal positive exclamation in AusE/BrE ('What a ripper of a day!'). Reference to tools in DIY contexts.
Technical
A machine attachment for breaking up soil or tearing materials.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ripper”
- Using the positive informal sense ('He's a ripper!') in American contexts where it is not understood.
- Confusing 'ripper' (noun) with 'rip' (verb) in compound nouns.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not commonly understood in American English as a compliment. It may be confused with the tool or murderer sense.
No. While it can refer to a violent criminal or a destructive tool, it has a strong positive informal meaning in Australian and British English.
It is a type of software or hardware tool designed to extract data or text from digital documents, often bypassing security features.
The name originated from letters allegedly sent by the killer to the press, and it refers to the method of mutilating (ripping) the victims' bodies.
A person or thing that rips, tears, or cuts something apart.
Ripper is usually informal (when meaning 'excellent'); technical/historical (when referring to tools or murderers). in register.
Ripper: in British English it is pronounced /ˈrɪp.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈrɪp.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Jack the Ripper”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a RIP in your jeans. The thing that made the rip is the RIPPER.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXCELLENCE IS DESTRUCTIVE FORCE (in informal sense: something so good it 'tears up' the competition).
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is 'ripper' commonly used as an informal term meaning 'excellent'?