boxer

1 of 4

noun (1)

box·​er ˈbäk-sər How to pronounce boxer (audio)
Synonyms of boxernext
1
: a person who engages in the sport of boxing
2
boxers plural : boxer shorts

boxer

2 of 4

noun (2)

: one that makes boxes or packs things in boxes

boxer

3 of 4

noun (3)

: any of a German breed of compact medium-sized dogs with a short usually fawn or brindled coat

Boxer

4 of 4

noun (4)

Box·​er ˈbäk-sər How to pronounce Boxer (audio)
: a member of a Chinese secret society that in 1900 attempted by violence to drive foreigners out of China and to force Chinese converts to renounce Christianity

Synonyms of boxer

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Noun (1)

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Examples of boxer in a Sentence

Noun (1) that boxer is quite famous for being the youngest heavyweight champion ever
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The 49ers, an otherwise good team, have for the past couple of months been weaving and slipping bad news like a boxer trying to avoid a knockout punch. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Hailing from London as the son of hardscrabble fruit sellers, Winstone was often asked to channel his rough-and-tumble upbringing and pre-acting career as a boxer into mobster and villain roles. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Aug. 2026 His resume also includes a win over Mike Balogun, a former Buffalo Bills linebacker turned pro boxer. — ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026 Joe Louis Southern Kitchen pays homage to legendary boxer Joe Louis, with decor featuring photos and career milestones. — Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for boxer

Word History

Etymology

Noun (3)

German, from English boxer entry 1

Noun (4)

approximately translation of Chinese (Beijing) yìhé juǎn, literally, righteous harmonious fist

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1671, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1546, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1903, in the meaning defined above

Noun (4)

1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of boxer was in 1546

Phrases Containing boxer

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boxen
boxer
Boxer
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Cite this Entry

“Boxer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boxer. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

boxer

1 of 2 noun
box·​er ˈbäk-sər How to pronounce boxer (audio)
: one that engages in the sport of boxing

boxer

2 of 2 noun
: any of a German breed of medium-sized dogs with a smooth coat and a short square face

More from Merriam-Webster on boxer

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about boxer

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