dumpster
/ˈdʌmpstɚ/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: dumpsters
Meaning · English
A large, usually metal trash receptacle designed to be hoisted up by a garbage truck in order to be emptied.
NounRegister: US
Examples
He realized with a brief shudder that Kurt probably used this flashlight while nipple-deep in dumpsters, had an image of Kurt transferring it from his gloved hands to his mouth and back again as he dug through bags of kitchen and toilet waste, looking for discarded technology.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “dumpster” mean?
A large, usually metal trash receptacle designed to be hoisted up by a garbage truck in order to be emptied.
Is “dumpster” formal or informal?
dumpster is generally US.