shedder: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1neutral
Quick answer
What does “shedder” mean?
A person or animal that sheds (loses hair, skin, leaves, etc.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person or animal that sheds (loses hair, skin, leaves, etc.), or a tool/machine that facilitates shedding.
A highly emotional person who cries frequently; an animal (like a dog or snake) in the process of molting; a machine that strips or removes material.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both varieties use 'shedder' for animals and emotional contexts. 'Shedder' for a molting crab is more common in UK fishing dialects.
Connotations
Neutral for animals/tools. Can be slightly informal or gentle when describing an emotional person (e.g., 'he's a bit of a shedder').
Frequency
Low frequency in both, slightly higher in contexts involving pet care (e.g., 'heavy shedder' for dogs) in the US.
Grammar
How to Use “shedder” in a Sentence
[shedder] of [noun: tears/hair/skin][adjective: heavy/light] shedderVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shedder” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- My dog is shedding again.
- The trees began to shed their leaves.
American English
- My dog is shedding all over the couch.
- The company decided to shed 500 jobs.
adjective
British English
- The shedding process takes a few weeks.
- We have a shedding brush for the dog.
American English
- Look for a low-shedding breed if you have allergies.
- It's a heavy-shedding season.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in manufacturing for a machine that strips insulation from wires.
Academic
Used in biology/zoology texts discussing molting (ecdysis).
Everyday
Most common in pet ownership (dogs/cats that shed hair) or describing emotional people.
Technical
In fishing/aquaculture for soft-shell crabs; in textiles for machines removing wool/hair.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shedder”
- Using 'shedder' to mean a small building (confusion with noun 'shed').
- Overusing the emotional sense in formal contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's a low-frequency word, mostly used in specific contexts like pet care, biology, or informal descriptions of emotional people.
Yes, though less common. You could describe a deciduous tree as a 'leaf shedder' in autumn.
They are often synonyms for animals. 'Moulter' (UK) / 'molter' (US) is more specific to the biological process of ecdysis, while 'shedder' is broader and can include casual loss of hair or leaves.
It can be perceived as informal or slightly belittling if referring to someone who cries easily. Context and tone are important.
A person or animal that sheds (loses hair, skin, leaves, etc.
Shedder is usually neutral in register.
Shedder: in British English it is pronounced /ˈʃɛdə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈʃɛdər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[He/She] is a real shedder when watching sad films.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SHEDder = Someone or Something that constantly SHEDs (hair, skin, tears).
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTION IS A FLUID (a shedder of tears); CHANGE IS A SNAKE SHEDDING ITS SKIN.
Practice
Quiz
In a biological context, a 'shedder' is most likely to be: