Meanings
plural gleaners
- One who gleans.
- slangA person who focuses on self-improvement while in prison.
Gleaners read, pursue formal education, may learn a trade through vocational education programs or job training, […]
1976, United States. National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research, Research Involving Prisoners: Appendix to Report and Recommendations1 more example
Release and renewal of life on the outside are the dominant concerns of time-doers and gleaners. Even jailers, although they tend to make prison life their central concern, are cognizant that they will return to the outside community.
1987, John Irwin, The Felon, page 86
Origin
- Middle Englishglenar
- Englishgleaner
From Middle English glenar, glenere, equivalent to glean + -er.
More words from Middle English
Full word history & related roots →Translations
French glaneur, glaneuse
- glaneurone who gleans
- glaneuseone who gleans
German Ährenleser, Ährenleserin
- Ährenleserone who gleans
- Ährenleserinone who gleans
Italian spigolatore, spigolatrice
- spigolatoreone who gleans
- spigolatriceone who gleans
Spanish espigador, espigadora
- espigadorone who gleans
- espigadoraone who gleans
Turkish başakçı
- başakçıone who gleans
Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
gleaner. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gleaner
“gleaner.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gleaner. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “gleaner,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gleaner.
Source: gleaner on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.