stager: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Literary
Quick answer
What does “stager” mean?
An experienced or long-standing person in a particular field or activity.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An experienced or long-standing person in a particular field or activity.
The noun can refer specifically to: 1) A person who stages or organizes an event. 2) A person who works on a stage; an actor (now rare).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The idiom 'old stager' is more common in British English. The sense of 'event organizer' is used in both, but often appears in compound forms like 'event-stager'.
Connotations
In BrE, 'old stager' can carry a slightly nostalgic or respectful tone. In AmE, it is a formal and somewhat dated term.
Frequency
The term is infrequent in both varieties, but the core 'old stager' usage is relatively more likely in BrE prose.
Grammar
How to Use “stager” in a Sentence
Old stager at [activity]A stager of [events]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could refer to a very experienced executive.
Academic
Very rare, except in historical studies of theatre.
Everyday
Mostly in the set phrase 'old stager'.
Technical
In event management, a person or company that stages shows or exhibitions.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stager”
- Using 'stager' to mean a beginner or trainee (confusion with 'stagiaire' or 'intern').
- Omitting 'old' in the idiomatic phrase ('He is a stager' is incorrect; must be 'He is an old stager').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency word. Its main use is in the fixed phrase 'old stager'.
Historically, yes, but this sense is now archaic. The modern word for a theatre actor is simply 'actor' or 'performer'.
They are synonyms in the context of 'old stager', but 'veteran' is far more common and can be used in more contexts (e.g., military veteran). 'Stager' is more literary and often implies cunning or savvy gained from long experience.
Use it almost exclusively in the phrase 'old stager' followed by 'at' or 'in': 'She's an old stager at managing crises.'
An experienced or long-standing person in a particular field or activity.
Stager is usually formal, literary in register.
Stager: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsteɪdʒə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsteɪdʒər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “old stager”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of someone who has been on the STAGE of life or their profession for a very long time – an old STAGER.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE/EXPERIENCE IS A THEATRICAL PRODUCTION (old stager = someone long on life's stage).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'stager' most commonly used today?