summercater: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare / RegionalInformal, colloquial (chiefly US, particularly New England)
Quick answer
What does “summercater” mean?
A person, typically an urban resident, who spends the summer in a rural or coastal area, often in a rented or seasonal property.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person, typically an urban resident, who spends the summer in a rural or coastal area, often in a rented or seasonal property.
A seasonal visitor or tourist, often with connotations of being somewhat affluent, non-local, and potentially disruptive to the year-round community's norms and economy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively American, specifically associated with the coastal and island regions of Maine and New England. In British English, equivalent concepts would be expressed with phrases like 'summer visitor', 'holaymaker', or regionally specific terms (e.g., 'grockle' in Devon, 'emmett' in Cornwall).
Connotations
In its American regional context, it can imply a degree of cultural or economic separation between locals and visitors. In British contexts, where the term is not used, similar regional terms often carry stronger pejorative connotations.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general English; moderate frequency in specific regional dialects of the Northeastern US, particularly in Maine. Virtually unattested in UK English.
Grammar
How to Use “summercater” in a Sentence
[Location] is full of summercaters from [City].The [business] relies on summercaters.He was perceived as just another summercater.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “summercater” in a Sentence
verb
American English
- The island begins to summercater in late June.
- They've been summercatering on the Cape for decades.
adjective
American English
- a summercater mentality
- the summercater influx
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used by local business owners to refer to their seasonal customer base, e.g., 'Our revenue is highly dependent on the summercaters.'
Academic
Potentially used in sociological or anthropological studies of tourism, gentrification, and regional identity.
Everyday
Used in casual conversation among residents of summer tourist destinations, e.g., 'The summercaters are starting to arrive; traffic will be terrible soon.'
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “summercater”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “summercater”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “summercater”
- Misspelling as 'summer cater' (implying a catering service).
- Using it outside its specific regional (NE US) context where it will not be understood.
- Assuming it is a formal or neutral term without potential pejorative weight.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an informal, colloquial term used primarily in specific regional dialects of the United States.
Yes, in its regional context, it can be used informally as a verb (e.g., 'They summercater in Maine'), though the noun form is more common.
It is not inherently derogatory, but like many terms for outsiders, it can be used pejoratively depending on the speaker's tone and context. It often carries a nuanced mix of economic appreciation and social othering.
There is no direct single-word equivalent. Contextual phrases like 'summer visitors' are used, or region-specific slang terms exist (e.g., 'grockle', 'emmett'), which are often more pejorative.
A person, typically an urban resident, who spends the summer in a rural or coastal area, often in a rented or seasonal property.
Summercater: in British English it is pronounced Not applicable / No standard transcription., and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsʌmərˌkeɪtər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a person who 'cates' (an archaic variant of 'cats' or seeks) a place only for the summer.
Conceptual Metaphor
TEMPORARY RESIDENTS ARE SEASONAL MIGRANTS (like birds). COMMUNITY IS A HOST (and visitors are guests, sometimes unwelcome).
Practice
Quiz
In which regional dialect is the term 'summercater' primarily used?