gleaner

G2L1E1A1N1E1R1

noun

One who gleans.

UncommonScrabble 8

Meanings

noungleaner (plural gleaners)

plural gleaners

  1. One who gleans.
  2. 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 Recommendations
    1 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

  1. Middle Englishglenar
  2. Englishgleaner

From Middle English glenar, glenere, equivalent to glean + -er.

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
APA

gleaner. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gleaner

MLA

“gleaner.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gleaner. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “gleaner,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/gleaner.

Source: gleaner on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.