stalker: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2formal, informal (increasingly common in media and legal contexts)
Quick answer
What does “stalker” mean?
A person who harasses or persecutes another with unwanted and obsessive attention, often following them.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who harasses or persecutes another with unwanted and obsessive attention, often following them.
A person who stealthily follows, watches, or approaches another, either out of obsession, with malicious intent, or for hunting/pursuit purposes. In a modern context, this includes cyberstalking via digital means.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The legal definition and societal understanding are virtually identical. The term is equally common in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally strong negative connotations in both regions. Associated with fear, intrusion, and criminality.
Frequency
Comparable frequency. Increased usage in both from the 1990s onwards due to media coverage and anti-stalking legislation.
Grammar
How to Use “stalker” in a Sentence
stalker of [victim]stalker who [clause]be/victim of a stalkerVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stalker” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The celebrity obtained an injunction against the stalker.
- Police were able to trace the stalker through CCTV footage.
American English
- She filed for a restraining order against her stalker.
- The laws against stalking have become much stricter.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially in security/HR contexts: 'The firm hired a consultant after an employee reported a stalker.'
Academic
Used in psychology, criminology, sociology, and legal studies literature on harassment and interpersonal violence.
Everyday
Common in news reports, personal stories, and discussions about safety, harassment, and celebrity culture.
Technical
Specific use in legal statutes (e.g., 'Stalking Protection Order'), cybersecurity ('stalkerware'), and law enforcement reports.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stalker”
- Using 'stalker' jokingly or lightly for someone who is merely curious or checks social media, which trivialises a serious crime. Confusing 'stalk' (verb) with 'stock' (noun/verb).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, for humans. Animals or things that stalk are described with the verb (e.g., 'a stalking panther').
Virtually never in contemporary English. It is a term of accusation and fear. Historical/niche uses (e.g., 'deer stalker' as a type of hunter or hat) are neutral but very specific and uncommon.
A fan admires from a respectful (often public) distance. A stalker's attention is obsessive, unwanted, intrusive, involves invasion of privacy, and causes fear or distress. The line is crossed when the attention becomes persistent and harassing.
Using the internet, email, social media, or other digital means to harass, threaten, monitor, or pursue someone obsessively. The perpetrator is a 'cyberstalker'.
A person who harasses or persecutes another with unwanted and obsessive attention, often following them.
Stalker is usually formal, informal (increasingly common in media and legal contexts) in register.
Stalker: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstɔːkə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstɔːkər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He felt like he had a stalker on his tail.”
- “Living in fear of a stalker's shadow.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A STALK is what a corn plant has. A STALKER is a person who 'stalks' someone, like a hunter stalks prey, but with malicious intent.
Conceptual Metaphor
STALKING IS HUNTING (the victim is prey, the stalker is a predator). STALKING IS A SHADOW (an unseen, persistent, dark presence).
Practice
Quiz
In modern usage, the primary connotation of 'stalker' is: