boomer
gb/bˈumɚ/ us/bˈumɚ/
B2
English
~ 7900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
slang
B2
entity
1
Older person seen as out of touch
A usually older person who seems old-fashioned and does not understand new ideas, technology, or culture.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is (such) a boomer
Common mistake:
Learners often think 'boomer' only means a person born between 1946 and 1964. In modern online slang, it is also used more broadly as an insult for anyone seen as old-fashioned or out of touch, even if they are not actually from that generation.
Synonyms
old-timer (Suggests an older person; does not automatically carry the same critical, mocking tone as 'boomer' in this sense.)
Antonyms
zoomers (Slang for Generation Z; often used as a contrast with 'boomers' to mean very young, internet-native people.)
Collocations
OK boomer
|sound like a boomer
|such a boomer
|call [someone] a boomer
|total boomer
|boomer attitude
Themes
internet
|society
|relationships
|communication
Examples
- You sound like such a boomer when you complain about people using their phones.
- The comment section was full of teenagers calling the writer a boomer for his views on social media.
- "OK boomer," she replied, rolling her eyes at his lecture about buying a house.
- He has a real boomer mindset about work, expecting everyone to stay late every day.
- Online, people sometimes use "boomer" to mock anyone they think is stuck in the past.
Learner examples
- My little brother calls me a boomer when I ask for help with my phone.
- On the internet, some people say "OK boomer" to an older person with old ideas.
- He is only 35, but his friends joke that he is a boomer because he hates new music.
- They called the teacher a boomer after he said TikTok was a waste of time.
unknown
B2
entity
2
Member of the baby-boomer generation
A person who was born during the baby boom after World War II, usually between 1946 and 1964.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a boomer
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'boomer' for any old person, without knowing it has a specific generational meaning. In neutral, factual contexts, 'boomer' refers to people born in the post-war baby boom, not just anyone who is old.
Synonyms
baby boomer (The full and slightly more formal term; often preferred in writing and neutral discussion.)
Antonyms
millennial (Refers to a younger generation (born roughly 1981–1996), often contrasted with boomers in social and economic discussions.)
Collocations
baby boomer
|boomer generation
|boomer voters
|boomer parents
|boomer retirement
|boomer population
Themes
society
|demographics
|history
|generations
|time
|relationships
Examples
- As a boomer, she remembers watching the first moon landing live on television.
- Boomer voters still make up a large part of the electorate.
- Many boomer retirees are moving to smaller cities for a lower cost of living.
- The wealth gap between boomers and younger generations is a frequent topic in the news.
- Companies are creating new products aimed at aging boomer consumers.
Learner examples
- My parents are both boomers; they were born in the 1950s.
- Many boomers are now retired or close to retirement.
- Some people say boomers had better job opportunities than young people today.
- The boomer generation is very large in many countries.
Noun
C1
entity
3
Large adult male kangaroo
In Australian and New Zealand English, a very big male kangaroo.
Usage pattern:
[a] boomer [is/was] [doing something]
Synonyms
male kangaroo (Neutral, descriptive term; does not imply the large size that 'boomer' usually suggests.)
Antonyms
joey (Means a young kangaroo, which is the opposite in age and size to a large adult male 'boomer'.)
Collocations
big red boomer
|old boomer
|boomer hopping
|boomer bounding across [a place]
|boomer in the paddock
|huge grey boomer
Themes
animals
|australia
|nature
Examples
- A huge boomer was standing in the middle of the road at dawn.
- The farmer pointed to a boomer grazing near the fence line.
- We watched a boomer bound across the field in three great jumps.
- That old boomer has been coming to the waterhole for years.
- The guide warned us not to get too close to the big boomer.
Learner examples
- We saw a big boomer near the trees.
- The boomer jumped over the fence.
- A boomer can be very strong and dangerous.
- There was one small kangaroo and one large boomer in the field.
Noun
technical
C2
entity
4
Ballistic-missile submarine
In military language, a submarine that carries long-range missiles, often with nuclear weapons.
Usage pattern:
[a] boomer [is/was] [doing something]
Synonyms
ballistic-missile submarine (More formal and descriptive; used in official and technical writing instead of the informal jargon term 'boomer'.)
Antonyms
attack submarine (A different type of submarine designed to hunt other ships and submarines rather than carry strategic missiles.)
Collocations
nuclear boomer
|fleet of boomers
|operate a boomer
|boomer patrol
|boomer crew
|convert a boomer
Themes
military
|technology
|politics
Examples
- The navy plans to replace its aging boomers with a new class of submarines.
- Serving on a boomer means spending long months at sea on deterrent patrols.
- The treaty places limits on the number of boomers each country can deploy.
- Engineers are upgrading the missile systems on several boomers in the fleet.
- He spent most of his career as an officer on nuclear-powered boomers.
Learner examples
- The country keeps several boomers at sea as a nuclear threat.
- A boomer can stay underwater for many months.
- They built a new boomer with more modern missiles.
- He worked on a boomer in the navy for ten years.
Grammar
Dictionary form
boomer
IPA
GB/bˈumɚ/
US/bˈumɚ/
Syllables & stress
boomer (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (boomer)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: boomer
- Plural: boomers
Word family
Forms
boomers
noun
Core family
boom
noun B1
booming
adjective
Expressions
baby boomer
1/bˈeɪbi bˈumɚ/
fixed phrase
Person born during baby boom
A person born during the baby boom after World War II, usually between 1946 and 1964.
Examples
- As a baby boomer, he grew up during a time of rapid economic growth.
- The report explains how baby boomers are changing retirement patterns.
- Many baby boomers are now helping to care for their grandchildren.
boomer generation
1/bˈumɚ d͡ʒˌɛnɚˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
The baby-boomer age group
All people who are baby boomers, seen as one group.
Examples
- The boomer generation holds a large share of national wealth.
- The healthcare system is under pressure as the boomer generation ages.
- The boomer generation grew up during a period of major social change.
boomer shooter
1/bˈumɚ ʃˈutɚ/
fixed phrase
slang
Retro-style first-person shooter game
A first-person shooter video game that looks and plays like old shooter games from the 1990s.
Examples
- He loves boomer shooters because they focus on fast movement and simple mechanics.
- The new game is a modern boomer shooter with pixelated graphics and heavy metal music.
- Many indie developers are making boomer shooters inspired by classic PC games.
OK boomer
1/ˈoʊ kˈeɪ bˈumɚ/
idiom
slang
Dismissive reply to older viewpoint
A short, often rude answer used online or in speech to tell an older person that their idea is old and not important.
Examples
- "You just need to work harder and stop complaining." – "OK boomer."
- When he started talking about how "kids these days" are lazy, someone just said, "OK boomer," and walked away.
- She posted a long rant about social media, and the top comment was simply, "OK boomer."