ringer

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Any person or thing that is fraudulent; a fake or impostor.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English
Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A fraudulently cloned (or cut-and-shut) motor vehicle.

Register: slang

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “ringer” mean?

Any person or thing that is fraudulent; a fake or impostor.

Is “ringer” formal or informal?

ringer is generally slang.