bandwagoner

noun

band·​wag·​on·​er ˈband-ˌwa-gə-nər How to pronounce bandwagoner (audio)
variants or bandwagoneer
plural bandwagoners or bandwagoneers
chiefly US
: a person who takes part in or becomes enthusiastic about something only when it is popular or fashionable
… ugly performances through December and the first half of January caused more than a few bandwagoners to jump ship …Kevin Greenstein, New York Sun, 6 Feb. 2008
… Hawks fans bellyached about the affluent bandwagoners who are scooping up tickets …Dan McNeil, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2010
Though they are sometimes derided as shameless bandwagoners who leap into and out of stocks with abandon—increasing volatility in the process—it's not always a fair charge: Some momentum investors actually hold stocks for relatively long periods.Melanie Warner, Fortune, 9 Dec. 1996
The original innovators have moved on, and all that remains are bandwagoneers pumping out an astounding amount of identical-looking product …Patricia Calhoun and Justin F. Farrar, Houston Press, 31 Aug. 2006

Word History

Etymology

bandwagon + -er entry 2

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bandwagoner was in 1926

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near bandwagoner

Cite this Entry

“Bandwagoner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bandwagoner. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!